fahr creates ephemeral urban corner to reactivate old taiwanese train station

to reactivate an abandoned train station in the city of taitung, taiwan, creative studio fahr 021.3 created nook. the ephemeral structure engages the community by providing an enclosed, flexible space available to host myriad cultural activities.

all images © yuchen chao

fahr transformed the unused space by creating an open structure for the community that provides room for any event or activity. it can be used freely by anyone in the city, such as for an exhibition, a music concert, meditation or just playing around in a group or alone. the designers used this project as an opportunity to encourage cultural growth in the region and reactivate this area of taitung. the flexible space promotes a new area of freedom within the city fabric. as an experimental studio, fahr 021.3 works at the boundaries of art and architecture. such as in this project, the studio develops conceptual strategies and urban interventions seeking new solutions exploring through varying scales, materials and purposes.

the resulting structure is a translucent white cube of 8x8x8m, with a lifted lower corner to invite users and the community inside the space. an apparent light weight pavilion disguises the scale and weight of the structure, and non-invasively intervenes in the site creating a place of togetherness. the cloth-like design is approachable and its open plan enables it to host plenty of programs. the seemingly unfinished place serves as an extension of the park and the garden, challenging spontaneity and appropriation of the public space in taiwan.

project info:

design firm: fahr 021.3

team: hugo reis, filipa frois almeida, catarina azevedo, sérgio marafona, lena breitenborn

project title: nook

curator: artfield / huichen wu

engineering: po-tao cheung

construction: shen mao green house

gardening: lian xin nursery garden

client: taitung design center

photography: yuchen chao

location: taitung, taiwan

built: 2018