A look at Kaohsiung's future Gallery of Vision for Kaohsiung 在高雄願景館─看見高雄的未來
Anyone who was in Kaohsiung during August last year will have a vivid memory of "the great leap forward" for the former Kaohsiung Train Station. Today, it has been transformed into the dazzlingly brilliant Gallery of Vision for Kaohsiung.
Witness to history
From 63 years ago, when Kaohsiung Train Station was completed, this uniquely grand building witnessed the period of Japanese rule, the period of Chiang Kai-shek escape from the Mainland China to establish the seat of the ROC, the Taiwanese economical miracle, and the arrival of the 21st century. This building is not only an important part of the imagery of the city but also it helped bring about the development of the city as well as assisting every Kaohsiung citizen and visitors.
When the plan for three co-constructed railways began, the train station was going to face demolition. But because of the unique aesthetic value and historical position of the station, and citizens' common memory and affection, Mayor Hsieh urged that it should remain to let this historical and cultural heritage site become a significant testimony to development.
Move to remain
After discussion, the final decision was to move the entire body of train station a little to the south-east. This was a rather daring scheme. Owing to Kaohsiung Train Station's structure of reinforced concrete, the body could not be moved by demolition and reconstruction. During the move, first, the whole body of the train station was lifted up; then, a track of steel and jack were put under the building; the building was moved all at once using the jack. The whole process was complicated and needed to be accurate. On average, the speed of movement was one centimeter each minute. On the 16 working days, from August 16th to 29th, 2002, the station moved 82.6 meters altogether. Under the supervision of the Taiwan branch of Japan's Ching-shuei Construction Company that built Kaohsiung Train Station in 1940, the move was completed perfectly. Today, the Gallery of Vision for Kaohsiung has a new way to accompany Kaohsiung citizens.
Series exhibitions
The Gallery of Vision for Kaohsiung has a series of exhibitions, including the theme gallery, Gallery of Vision for Kaohsiung, the Bridge of Vision, the Log-built Cultural Railroad and the Square of Blessing Wind. The theme gallery is designed using much transparency so that it not only still retains its original sense of space but also records every movement ─ through a transparent floor, the base of the construction is visible. Through the various multi-media equipment, the past, present, and future in Kaohsiung are on display to visitors. The transparent Bridge of Vision is built above the construction area of KMRT. Visitors are able to see what is going on in the area just like seeing different plays. These arrangements change inconvenience into expectation during the transition stage of public construction. The Log-built Cultural Railroad is built from the front to the back of the former train station and displays history and culture. The Square for Blessing Wind becomes a new open area for citizens' leisure.
The Gallery of Vision for Kaohsiung will move to the original site in 2010 when the three co-constructed railways plan is completed. It will be connected to the new building of the new Train Station and will provide imagery at the entrance to Kaohsiung and also a landmark. It once accompanied Kaohsiung's past; now becomes an open window on to a transition period of the transportation. In future, it will keep Kaohsiung citizens company right through to the next century!
如果去年八月您在高雄，想必對於舊高雄火車站的「開步走」記憶猶新；經過一年的整備，舊高雄火車站已然搖身一變，成了光彩奪目的「高雄願景館」。
歷史見證
63年前，高雄火車站完工，這棟當時鶴立雞群的宏偉建築，歷經日治時代、光復初期、台灣經濟起飛，到廿一世紀的現在，不但是高雄最具代表性的城市意象，更帶動高雄的城市發展，同時也伴隨著每一個高雄人、以及曾經出入高雄市的朋友成長。然而當三鐵共構計劃展開，舊火車站面臨被拆除的命運；有鑒於舊高雄車站帝冠式主體的特殊美感，以及車站本身的歷史定位，加上市民的共同情感，高雄市長謝長廷主張應將火車站保存下來，讓這份文化資產成為城市發展重要的見證。
搬遷保存
經過許多討論與折衝，最後決定將火車站站體向東南搬遷。這是一項相當大膽的嘗試，由於高雄火車站站體為鋼筋水泥結構，無法以拆開還原的方式搬遷；因而搬遷時首先要將站體整個撐起，於建築物下方舖上鋼軌與千斤頂，藉由推動千斤頂，同時推動建築物平行前移，過程繁複且精密，平均移動速度為每分鐘一公分，從2002年8月16日至29日，16個工作天中共移動82.6公尺，在當初建造高雄車站的日本清水建設在台分公司的執行下，圓滿移至定點，並在一年後，化身為「高雄願景館」，以另一種方式繼續陪伴高雄市民。
系列展演
「高雄願景館」一系列展示空間，包括「高雄願景館」主題館、「願景橋」、「鐵路文化棧道」以及「風的祝福廣場」等部分。主題館中以透明為設計基調，不但維持原有的空間感，透明的地板看得到建物基礎，更紀錄了高雄火車站的「驛動事件」；其中以各種多媒體與虛擬實境設備，向參觀者展示高雄的過去、現在和未來。而透明的「願景橋」跨越捷運施工區上方，旅客和市民可以在這裡觀賞工區日日上演的不同「戲碼」，把公共工程過渡期的不便轉化為期待。貫穿前後站的「鐵路文化棧道」展示鐵道歷史文化，「風的祝福廣場」則成為市民新的休閒開放空間。
「高雄願景館」(帝冠式高雄車站)將在2010年三鐵共構工程完工後遷回原址，與新車站大樓連結，再度擔任高雄入口意象與地標。它曾經陪伴著高雄的過去，如今它為高雄的交通過渡期開啟一扇窗，未來，它將繼續陪伴高雄人走過下一個世紀！