King’s Cross Redevelopment

King’s Cross Redevelopment

“After years of urban decay, London’s King’s Cross district is nearing the end of US$3.2 billion makeover, including the redevelopment of two neighboring Victorian railway stations, one of which now houses the sleek Eurostar service to Paris. The area around King’s Cross is at the center of one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects, which includes space for new offices, shops, leisure facilities and about 2,000 apartments. Judges who were familiar with this formerly decaying part of London marveled at how transformational the work has been” (KPMG).

King’s Cross spreads over 67 acres. There have been many plans for its redevelopment including: a whole series of new public squares and gardens have, among them Granary Square, Lewis Cubitt Park and Square and the new Gasholder Park. At least a third of the site (25 acres/10 hectares) will be dedicated to new public routes and open spaces. Buildings under construction in this zone would typically have storeys in the range of 1-19.

This revitalization of the community is considered to be one of the best in the world. “The 67-acre regeneration scheme is now halfway to completion. By 2020, the site will include 2,000 new homes, a new primary school, 10 public squares, three parks, a lido, 500,000 sq ft of restaurant and retail space, and 3.4m sq ft of office space, including Google’s new UK headquarters” (Financial Times).

A current picture of King's Cross (Image Credits: kingscross.co.uk)

Taoyuan Aerotropolis

Taoyuan Aerotropolis

Taoyuan Aerotropolis is a planned large urban planning development at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan. It would be funded by the Taiwan city government. The development requires a total of 3,200 hectares land acquisition and over 40,000 people have to be relocated. Once the Aerotropolis has been completed, the Taoyuan International Airport will be expanded to 1,800 hectares from the current 1,200 hectares, and the third runway will also be built.

“Taoyuan is already a well-positioned hub for international trade and manufacturing, with the existing Taoyuan International Airport and Taipei Port connected locally via a comprehensive network of highways, railways and Mass Rapid Transit. The project is a cornerstone in the government’s ‘i-Taiwan 12 Projects’ blueprint for economic development” (KPMG).

(Image credits: Taipei-Airport)

Expansion of Stockholm Metro

Expansion of Stockholm Metro

Stockholm is one of the most developed cities in the world. It is always trying to adapt itself into becoming a better city: a sustainable city. As with other cities, mass transit is an important pre-requisite for that. And, Stockholm is trying to expand its metro which was established in 1950. Expected to be completed in 2025, the expansion would add nearly twenty kilometers of new track and nine new stations on four sections.  

There are multiple reasons for this expansion: growing population to 2.6 million by 2030, the current metro is running at full capacity, the need to create a transit network for 78,000 new homes and a desire to connect the citizens in an integrated manner better. “Funding will come via contributions from the various public authorities involved, along with an increase in vehicle congestion tax and the sale‑of land to home-builders” (KPMG).

A picture of current Stockholm Metro 

(Image credits: Wikipedia)