Maritime & Bike Terminal, Kinmen Passenger Service Center, Taiwanese Architecture

Maritime & Bike Terminal, Taiwan

Taiwanese National Gateway – design by KAMJZ Architects

30 Jan 2014

Kinmen Passenger Service Center

Design: KAMJZ Architects

Location: Kinmen Island, Taiwan

In this design the architects aim at altering the image of what you can expect from a port terminal building proposing a pragmatic hybrid complex where the water transportation system is connected with another strictly locally based way to commute.

INTERNATIONAL HUB & NATIONAL GATEWAY

The designed terminal would be the gate to Taiwan and a crutial element in the mini-three links infrastucture between Taiwan and China.From this point various people would make their way not only by water but also air and land to other destinations.It would function as a trully locally based multifunctional complex efficiently servicing various types of passengers and Kinmen citizens where land meets see.

Positioned in the border between two countries would be perceived by the newcomers as a distinct symbol of independ ence and majesty and at the same time mutuality and openness.

LOCAL APPROACH

The local aspect in architectural projects is mainly inserted as an add-on, in the form of local patches and facade features to achieve a more contextual outlook.

In our proposal we want it to be embedd in a bottom-up approach reaching the very core of the design focusing on enhancing the main project feature- sea transportation service quality.

In order to achieve that the newly formed network would be integrated with a stricktly domestic means of transport wich has it’s roots deep down in the regional economy.

Bike routes wich already cover the whole island together with a parking and U-city bike-rental system positioned inisde the service terminal would supplement the passenger circulation.

This would not only improve the ability to experience the unique charm and climate of Kinmen as a harbor city and from close see the different character of the ambient of each part of this an other islands in the proximity but it could create a public oriented facility.

ICONIC MARITIME OUTLOOK

The building would make use of the whole 520 m wide plot without creating a closed wall.The programme would be spread on vertically arranged various decks acting as view terraces celebrating the idea of “welcome” and “farewell” ceremonial on a waterfront of a ship terminal.

The public spread on the same level as the ship would create a dialogue between the two providing an interaction between the local people and visitors making views onto the architecture and landscaping equally important from the waters and from the port.

The facade would not be a continuous wall but a porous structure with views towards the ocean from major streets and axes on land.

Waterfront aesthetics would be strengthen by applying fluid modifications on the buildings surfaces.

This would give the harbor city a fresh look and create a new image for Kinmen.

LOW-CARBON STRATEGY FOR KINMEN

Next to promoting biking as one of the most important and by far most ecological means of transport on the island the design faces other upcoming changes.

In recent years Kinmen Island has transformed from a front-line military base to a tourist-oriented spot. Due to the recent opening of relations between Taiwan and China, there has been a large influx of tourists into Kinmen Island.This relates with a fast increase of population wich results in a bigger ammount of carbon emissions and energy demand.

Low-carbon electricity power supply could be provided through renewable energy sources.By modifing the building volume and applying energy PV panels and turbines positioned on the rooftop and in the bottom of the building energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, and tidal power could be harvested.

Additionally in order to create a trully independent network, water resources can not depend solely on the pipeline built to carry water from the Shanmei Reservoir in Jinjiang.

It could be provided to the harbour through a desalination plant and raiwater collecting tanks positioned on the top of the passenger service building wich could act as a mass damper in case of an earthquake.

Together with the proposed biking system with it’s center inside the passenger service building and other local resources such as the kaoliang ( sorghum) liquor this could be a model sustainable network design.

Maritime & Bike Terminal – Building Information

Architect: KAMJZ
Location: Kinmen, Taiwan
Project leader: Maciej Jakub Zawadzki
Partner in charge: Maciej Jakub Zawadzki, Marek Kuryłowicz
Team: Michał Polak, Łukasz Wenclewski, Bogusz Ostalski, Magdalena Szucio
Client: Kinmen County Government Port of Kinmen, Ministry of Transportation and Communication
Size: Site 5.2 ha; 1st stage 36080 sqm; 2nd stage 6400 sqm

Maritime & Bike Terminal images / information from KAMJZ

Location: Kinmen Island, Taiwan