MRT Bryan Christin Claire G Jessica Natalie Ryan

Outline Argument: MRT indeed reaches its purpose of bringing the public convenience by creating a humanized space, however, in terms of culture, society and the interaction among human, MRT actually creates a sense of isolation.

Outline • General Background Introduction -- History of MRT Introduction • Basic Functions/Questioning -- Building/structure/public spaces -- Plan city/Commerce & MRT /Promotion of Arts&local culture • Cultural impact -- Creates a sense of isolation (different space/New social class distribution/Generation/Taipei images) • Comparison between Bus and MRT • Q&A

History & Route The main purpose of constructing the Taipei Rapid Transit Systems (TRTS) is to provide a safe, convenient, comfortable and esthetic public transportation system for the people in Taipei metropolitan area. The construction of the Taipei Metro can be assessed in 3 stages, as follows: Completion of most of the Initial Network and substantial upgrading of service capacity on the Taipei Metro (Carried out in the past 15 years, as shown in Table 1) 木柵線淡水線中和線新店線南港線板橋線及土城線

Applying for further budgets and continuing the construction of approved MRT lines (Planned for the next 10 years up to 2012, as shown in Table 2) 新店線小碧潭支線內湖線南港線東延段新莊線蘆洲支線信義線松山線 Continuous planning and construction of an extended MRT network (Planned for the next 20 years) 淡海線三峽鶯歌延伸線安坑線萬大中和地區延伸線社子士林北投區域輕軌路網環狀線民生社區往東延伸線

Characteristics&Future Plan Characteristics: Load, Speed, Cruises, Standard Revenue: Socially, Economically, Environmentally Future Plans: 1. Fruitful results from joint development of MRT yards/stations 2. Promoting Public Arts 3. Undertaking MRT projects in the pursuit of excellence 4. Strengthening communication with the public 5. Outputting Taipei Metro experience

MRT Architecture Considerations: 1. The size of the vehicles & platform 2. Charging system 3. Staff and Generator Room 4. 無障礙設施 5. Exits 6. 乘客動線

Characteristics of the Design of MRT Stations: Red Line as E. g. • Architectural Design @ Red Line as representative of Taipei @ Stations on the Ground: local architecture @ Stations Above Ground: Chinese architecture @ The functions and design of Blue line and other examples • The Functions of the Stations @ Connection with surrounding environment @ Offer services @ Create public spaces

Red Line • Base on the old railroad system – unlimited architectural design • Representation of Taiwan image • Modern Taiwanese architecture

Stations on the Ground Local Architecture 紅樹林站傳統建築

Stations Above Ground Chinese Architecture 石牌站 Dr. Sun Yat-sen M. H.

Connections With Surroundings 劍潭站 V. S. Grant Hotel

Connections With Surroundings 淡水站 V. S. 紅毛城

Services and Public Spaces Service: Parking Service Public Spaces: • Arts, Gallery • Commercial Activities (Underground St. ) • Multifunctional Spaces (parks and city squares) • Lead to Tour Spots

Services • What do we have? • • • Clear signs Easy Card Warning lights Intercoms Waiting area for women Bus transferring signs Information center Lost & Found service 無障礙設施

Questions • What do you think about these services? • Do you use them oftentimes?

Services V. S. people • 1. Convenient • 2. Efficient • 3. Humanized • 4. Thoughtful

MRT V. S. Commerce • Construct a station where provides business potential 1. People’s needs 2. Promoting tourism Ex: 士林 / 東區 / 淡水. . . etc.

MRT V. S. Commerce • Creating business potential after the construction of MRT 1. Real estate 2. Attracting more business & commercial activities

MRT V. S. Commerce • MRT create commercial activities on its own 1. Underground streets a. Another connection to the outer world b. Does it really successful?

MRT V. S. Commerce • 2. Renting out wherever they have • • • Trans (inside & outside) Tickets Signboards Walls Public spaces Art galleries

MRT V. S. Commerce A major income Easy to be noticed Efficient • What’s your opinion toward these Ads? • Would they somehow disturb/ occupied your sight?

Public Arts

Mini Park

Cultural impact -- MRT brings a sense of isolation and creates a Hyper Space (Warm Hole) • A sense of isolation of different space • A sense of isolation in creating a new social class distribution • A sense of isolation between different generation • Taipei images are reconstructed

Isolation of Different space • Space of An Underground System MRT changes the structure underground a. Human sensations are enclosed In Blackness a feeling of being blocked b. The ambiguity toward Time and Space ( A different space from the world: Seats reflections, Voices) ( Immobility Moving ) c. The Idea of Warm Hole MRT: a different space from the city MRT Station: a connector The function of putting local art in MRT station

Isolation of New Social class distribution • Passengers are mostly students and younger career people but rarely older people or vagrant. • The automation MRT brings to people creates a boundary. The Prize Time-consideration The technology --The complex ticket-buying procedure (multiple function brought by high tech) New rules are formed for “MRT” community

Isolation Between Generations • Images different generation holds toward MRT differ. (The automation) Younger Generation -- Grow up with MRT -- See MRT as a transportation tool Elder generation -- Witness of MRT’s construction -- See MRT with expectation -- A fantasized city vision

Image of Taipei • Image of Taipei MRT

1. Taipei images are changed in the way how outsiders look at the city -- MRT becomes a part of Taipei MTV, CF, and movies use MRT as their view. Examples: • Movie-向左走向右走, 春光乍洩, 你那邊幾點? • MTV-陌生人(蔡健雅), FLY AWAY(梁靜如) • CF-純喫茶(陳信安版) 2. The image none-Taipei people hold toward MRT

Bus V. S. MRT Characteristics/ Transportation MRT BUS Rapid Slow Save time/efficiency Waste time no Traffic jam Higher Lower Automation Fully automatized Partially automatized Environment Clean/bright/quiet Dirty/dark/noisy Speed Time Traffic situation Price

MRT BUS Stations are set on the intersection of traffic. Go trough the city with more stops, and help MRT to transfer. Drivers Security/indifferent Security? ? /kind or rude Connection Observe people and the city like the outsiders. Interact with Strangers/conne ct with the city. Seat order Face to face Individual/next to another

Q&A • What is your experience in MRT? How do you feel when you are in it? • Do you think that MRT is a dehumanized or a humanized space? Why? • Does MRT change anything in your way of living or transportation? • In what aspect do you think that MRT should improve?

Thank You