Transportation Infrastructure as Catalyst: Evolving Urban Structure in the In-Between Space of Railway Stations

Abstract

Struggling to cope with the pandemic, people are seeking for a more convenient and short-distance community lifestyle. The fourth industrial revolution has also given rise to more convenient transportation and information-based lifestyles. Around railway stations, the traditional circular planning method based on 5-10-15 min walking distance forms the centralized urban structure. When focus on the in-between space of multiple stations, sometimes there is still a vacuum of space that difficult to access by walking. Taking material transportation infrastructure (railway and connecting traffic modes such as buses and bicycles) as catalyst, this study explores the networked coordination of immaterial infrastructure (space, function, place, urban structure, etc.). The station area is redefined by different speeds of various connecting traffic modes, which improves the radiation and integration capacity of stations. Meanwhile, the multiplying of multiple isochrones is applied as another criteria for accessibility and land value, guiding the evolution of multi-centralized urban structure. It contributes to a more convenient community lifestyle as an urban design pandemic response. Furthermore, a definition method and quantitative analysis of 3D Station Realm is proposed relying on Urban Network Analysis (UNA), with practical exploration of Feixi Road Station urban design taken as an example based on the idea.