“Kampung Admiralty shows how train stations can support a more diverse and inclusive mix of uses,” Ventura says.
Ventura says the spaces in between a train station are as important as what’s inside.
Singapore’s ION Orchard, built directly above the MRT, is not just a shopping centre but a meeting place at the heart of the neighbourhood.
“The train station has been there forever. What is changing is the sense of place that is being created around the station.”
The World Trade Center transportation hub, dubbed Oculus, may look like a bunch of dinosaur bones or a bird in flight, but it’s undeniably New York, Ventura adds.
“St Pancras Station in London or Fed Square in Melbourne – both of these stations offer a sense of arrival. But most train stations – like Macquarie Park in Sydney – bring you to nothing more than an intersection or a busy road. This is a missed opportunity to create something amazing.”
A train station with a strong sense of place is more likely to attract people. “And as more people use the station, it feels safer, which attracts even more people. And the more a station is used, the quicker it will pay for itself.”
It’s a virtuous circle, Ventura adds. “And the benefits can be exponential.”
This article was first published in Property Australia.
View our guide, ‘Shaping destinations, not just stations’, to learn more about the 10 “winning trends” driving the transformation of transportation hubs.
