The New High-density TOD Complex Coming to Hangzhou


Overlook of Hangzhou West Railway Station (Sohu 2021)

The Hangzhou West Railway Station project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by 2028. A total of seven skyscrapers will be constructed, the tallest of which will be 399 metres, and is expected to become the 'third centre' of Hangzhou and a central transport hub for the new district (Sohu 2021).

These towers will be integrated with the new railway station in Hangzhou and available for office, hotel and tourist businesses. Furthermore, pedestrian plazas will be built around the railway station to allow citizens and tourists to shop and leisure. They will be linked to the city park on the north side to form a landmark TOD (Transit-oriented Development) complex for the city.

The primary purpose of having so many high-rise buildings in one project is to maximise the land resources around the public transport hub and increase the density of the area. The next objective is to enhance the urban image and attract more businesses and tourists. The project is also considered sustainable because of the greater focus on development above the city, concentrating 1.2 million square metres of building volume within a 300-metre catchment area (Lou 2021), satisfying the city's functions while achieving efficient use of land resources and providing a large amount of public green open space in the city.

However, high-rise buildings are not necessarily sustainable. Firstly, skyscrapers consume more resources in the process of construction. A 40-storey building, for instance, typically consumes more materials than two 20-storey buildings, as it requires more structures, such as columns and beams at the bottom, to enhance capacity. Also, taller buildings consume more energy. It takes a lot of energy to transport water or other materials from the ground to the upper floors. Additional energy and carbon emissions are required to maintain their temperature and ventilation conditions. Therefore, although the West Hangzhou Station project benefits the city's social and economic development, its performance may not be satisfactory in terms of environmental sustainability.

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