Silver Urban Planning and Urban Design · 2026
O10 Station Urban Design
by MRT Bureau Kaohsiung City Government
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Urban Planning and Urban Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Mass Rapid Transit Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 19,846
- Verification code E20787AFD1 · Verify this award
About O10 Station Urban Design
O10 Station is a mixed-use urban development built above two metro stations in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The site covers about 1.8 hectares and provides around 287,811 square meters of floor area across six basement levels and five towers of 38 to 52 stories. Hotel, office, residential and retail spaces are combined with ground-level black-box theaters seating 120 to 200 people. The underground levels connect the two stations and guide pedestrian flow. High-performance facades control solar shading and daylight to limit energy use.
The MRT Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government's remarkable O10 Station Urban Design exemplifies the emerging paradigm of transit-oriented development that seamlessly integrates monumental civic architecture with biophilic urban design principles and sustainable vertical living. This ambitious composition demonstrates how contemporary urban planning can orchestrate diverse programmatic elements into a cohesive environmental narrative that prioritizes both human experience and ecological sensitivity. The dominant architectural gesture, a sweeping undulating canopy of extraordinary scale, appears to draw inspiration from natural phenomena such as cloud formations, ocean waves, or folded geological strata, suggesting an approach to civic architecture that seeks harmony with organic forms rather than imposing rigid geometries upon the landscape. The three residential towers rising beyond this horizontal datum introduce vertical garden systems that transform conventional high-rise typology into living breathing structures, their facades seemingly wrapped in cascading vegetation that would contribute to urban heat island mitigation while providing residents with intimate connections to nature at elevation. The extensive parkland surrounding these structures indicates a generous allocation of public green space, creating what appears to be a significant urban lung that would serve both recreational and environmental functions. Technical accomplishment is evident in the sophisticated handling of the roof structure's complex geometry, which suggests advanced computational design methodologies and innovative construction techniques. The viewer might contemplate how such integrated developments could reshape urban living by placing transit infrastructure, cultural amenities, residential density, and ecological restoration within walking distance, fostering communities where automobile dependency diminishes and pedestrian vitality flourishes.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The O10 Joint Development Project leverages its proximity to the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts-Weiwuying by integrating hotel, cultural, and commercial programs. An international-brand hotel, managed by a global hospitality group, accommodates performing arts troupes and audiences. Ground-level black-box theaters seat 120-200, prioritizing emerging groups, while lower floors incubate youth-led arts ventures. Offices, residences, and street-facing retail activate public space, extending Weiwuying's cultural energy into daily urban life.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The O10 Joint Development site spans roughly 1.8 hectares, with a total gross floor area of about 287,811 m2. It comprises six basement levels and five mixed-use towers of 38-52 stories. Situated within a Type 5 Commercial Zone and transportation land, building coverage and floor area ratios vary by use, enabling high-intensity development while balancing public circulation and urban function. The project aims to become a pivotal urban node for culture, business, and residence, with long-term flexibility.
- Tags
- Cultural Area, MRT Joint Development, Cultural City, Public Life, Kaohsiung
- Production Technology
- The project targets Gold-level Green Building certification, Class 1 Building Energy Efficiency, and Level 4 Low-Carbon Building status. Its design emphasizes high-density mixed-use development with durable, energy-efficient systems. High-performance facades optimize solar shading, daylight, and energy use for extended hotel and office operations, while underground levels connect two Mrt stations, enhancing pedestrian flow, safety, and navigational clarity.
- Design Challenge
- Situated within the Weiwuying cultural core, O10 connects both the Orange and Yellow MRT lines, making it a dual-Mrt integrated development with high engineering complexity. The underground levels must coordinate station entrances, connecting corridors, and commercial spaces while balancing traffic safety and pedestrian efficiency. Above ground, five high-rise towers introduce density, requiring careful calibration to maintain street scale and cultural atmosphere within a high-intensity urban context.
- Project Duration
- The project finished in Taiwan.
- Operation Flow
- As Kaohsiung's first dual-MRT joint development, O10 exemplifies Transit-Oriented Development in a high-density cultural district. By integrating transportation, hospitality, commerce, and arts, it is projected to attract over 2 million annual visitors, generate jobs, and stimulate surrounding industries. The project reinforces the Weiwuying cultural corridor, provides essential urban services, and establishes a new gateway for Fengshan and Lingya Districts, enhancing Kaohsiung's global cultural city presence.
- Research
- As the city shifts from industry toward a balance of culture and living, it requires high-density nodes with global connectivity. The O10 Joint Development Project integrates dual-MRT infrastructure and Tod strategies, combining hospitality, office, residential, and retail uses. With nearly 288,000 square meters of floor area, it supports cultural tourism and business while forming a new urban gateway between Lingya and Fengshan, marking Kaohsiung's shift toward sustainable urban systems.
- Inspiration
- For years, Kaohsiung's growth relied on steel and petrochemical industries, creating dense industrial zones and environmental challenges. As focus shifts to low-carbon governance and improved public life, rail transit reorganizes urban activity. Through Tod and joint development at Mrt stations, the Kaohsiung City Govt turns transport nodes into hubs of culture, daily life, and exchange. The O10 Project, at Weiwuying cultural corridor, links performing arts, urban living, and international interaction.
- Image Credits
- Mass Rapid Transit Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government