Floating above the ground of Dapo Pond in Taitung, a public space of metal 'lotus garden' creates a sanctuary for cyclists traversing Taiwan's East Rift Valley. Designed by Studio APL and Lin Ko-Fang Architects, the Tie-Ma Cycling Station reimagines the infrastructure of rest. Stones discovered during foundation excavation were transformed into breathable gabions walls and shaping steel into organic canopies, the project dissolves the boundary between bicycle station and the wetland ecosystem. Currently in its first completed phase, this resilient landscape architecture acts not as a barrier, but as a porous interface connecting the local community with the rhythms of the water.
Situated beside the pond’s primary outlet channel and framed by expansive rice fields, the site occupies an environmentally sensitive position. Rather than treating architecture as an isolated object, the project proposes an ecological settlement, where buildings extend from and adapt to the surrounding landscape.
In Taiwan, the bicycle is affectionately known as the "Tie-Ma" - a term that imbues the machine with a spirited, organic quality. Located at the entrance of the Dapo Pond wetland in Chi-shang Township, the Cycling Station draws inspiration from this cultural metaphor. The architecture does not dominate the landscape; instead, it crouches low like an animal resting in the forest, its dark columns echoing the trunks of the surrounding trees.
The reception hall is sheltered by a cluster of arched, metal canopies that mimic the hydrophobic curvature of leaves. These roofs not only provide generous shade for cyclists to rest and repair their gear but also channel rainwater into a collection system, reinforcing the site's hydrological resilience. The gaps between the "leaves" allow sunlight to dappled through, creating a shifting play of light and shadow that mimics the forest canopy.
A key ecological strategy was the strict adherence to a "zero-waste" earthwork policy. Stones excavated during the foundation digging were washed and sorted to fill the gabion walls of the wash stations. These masonry elements provide a heavy, tactile counterpoint to the lightweight steel roof. The use of stainless mirrors on the partition walls further dematerializes the structure, reflecting the surrounding greenery and making the building disappear into its context.
Developed in two phases, phase one, completed in July 2024, introduced the reception hall as the primary gateway to the site. Phase two, currently under construction, expands the project with a bicycle pavilion, a multifunctional exhibition and refreshment center, and accessible waterfront spaces. Together, the two phases form a cohesive public landscape along the water.
Rather than a single-purpose facility, the Tie-Ma Cycling Station is conceived as an integrated landscape system. Through carbon-reducing materials, resilient design, and ecological coexistence strategies, the plan transforms bicycle stations into waterfront public spaces that can be used daily, used for learning, and embraced by nature, providing sustainable public spaces for the Chi-shang Township.
