The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) of Taipei, with the capacity to transport almost two million passengers everyday, is the most heavily used public transport system in Taiwan. Most of the MRT stations are occupying important locations of Taipei and often very close to famous tourist spots, city landmarks, and areas with high density of commercial activities. This geographical connection creates the convenience and facility for people to move from one place to another and, therefore, the importance of MRT stations to Taipei doesn’t only lie in its traffic function, but in its role as an urban open space for people to gather.
Through the method of on-site behavioral documentation and mapping, the main purpose of this paper is to examine the role of MRT station as a public gathering space. In specific, entrance plazas of one heavily used MRT stations along the elevated section of Tamsui line - Shilin, is studied in terms of its design for public use. From the behavior and preference of plaza users to the elements and activities that may be added to improve the plaza design, this paper identifies four key factors affecting the general public’s attitude on the use of MRT entrance plaza: relation to street, sitting space, sense of privacy and retailing activities.
