"Nice-looking" Recent JR Stations?

[scott]

OK, I'm probably venturing into dangerous territory here, internet-practice-wise, but:

 

I'm looking for examples of recent JR station designs to serve as models for the station building I hope to scratch-build. (Since the platforms have underground access and elevators rather than a pedestrian overpass, a newer building seems to fit better.) I'm not looking for a specific building to model--as long as I can build something generally believable, that's fine.

 

Now, I'm not generally interested in architecture that's less than 500 years old  , so I may be naive about all this, but it's really hard to find good examples. Lots of older stations are fine, especially the more modest ones. Stations from the 60s and 70s (I'm guessing) are concrete and rectangular and boring and don't age well, but at least they're not aggressively eye-catching as well. But the most recent stations, especially along the shinkansen lines, seem to be brutally massive, inhuman blocks of blank panels and glass. Lots of straight lines, no ornamentation at all--the perfect combination of airless academic theory and stockholder-pleasing cheap, repeatable construction methods. Even in pictures, they seem to dwarf everyone around them. Granted there are some that use curving roofs or walls, but they're still mostly blank white panels and glass, and the shapes are very simple for their massive size. Some smaller stations look like concrete boxes with "just kidding" clock towers and porticos stuck on at minimal cost. (But, Scott, how do you *really* feel?)

 

So....does anybody have any more pleasant examples?

[miyakoji]

Good topic, in my opinion.  To be honest with you, I like the '60s/'70s JNR style stations.  I'm not saying they're attractive in any way, I'm just saying I like them  . 

 

Have you seen the old Nara Station building?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JR_Nara_sta01n3872.jpg .

 

An example of a smaller station that might be interesting to model is Soja, on the JRW Hakubi and Kibi Lines.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JR-Soujya-sta.jpg .

 

Two more could be JRW's Saga-Arashiyama (both old and new versions) and Kameoka (probably the old one).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saga_Arasiyama,_minamiguti,_West_Japan_Railway,_20090315.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sagaarashiyama_st01s2560.jpg

 

previous Kameoka station building:

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:%E4%BA%80%E5%B2%A1%E9%A7%85%E6%97%A7%E9%A7%85%E8%88%8E2005.jpg

 

Looking forward to everyone's suggestions on this!

[miyakoji]

My post completely neglects private railway stations.  Only the first one really came to mind, the second I just kind of found:

 

Nankai Hamadera Koen Station

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hamaderakoen_Station1.jpg

 

Hankyu Settsu-shi Station

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Settsu-shi_Station.JPG

[scott]

Thanks! Soja and Saga-Arashiyama (with the stairs and lower level removed in my case) definitely have some potential. Settu-shi is verging on the "big simple curves" thing, but at that scale (vs., say, Matsumoto) it works a lot better.

[The_Ghan]

Good topic, in my opinion.  To be honest with you, I like the '60s/'70s JNR style stations.  I'm not saying they're attractive in any way, I'm just saying I like them  . 

 

Have you seen the old Nara Station building?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JR_Nara_sta01n3872.jpg .

 

An example of a smaller station that might be interesting to model is Soja, on the JRW Hakubi and Kibi Lines.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JR-Soujya-sta.jpg .

 

Two more could be JRW's Saga-Arashiyama (both old and new versions) and Kameoka (probably the old one).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saga_Arasiyama,_minamiguti,_West_Japan_Railway,_20090315.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sagaarashiyama_st01s2560.jpg

 

previous Kameoka station building:

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:%E4%BA%80%E5%B2%A1%E9%A7%85%E6%97%A7%E9%A7%85%E8%88%8E2005.jpg

 

Looking forward to everyone's suggestions on this!

 

Recent designs?

 

Cheers

 

The_Ghan

[The_Ghan]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Here are a few modern stations from the Chuo Main Line, JR East.  You can be the judge of what is "nice-looking"

 

Saruhashi - completed in 2005 (one of my favourites)

Sakaori - completed in 2010 (I think)

Ryuo - also c.2010

Nagoya - 1999 - JR West (I think)

 

Cheers

 

The_Ghan

[bikkuri bahn]

Railways in Japan generally don't employ architects to produce quirky station designs.  Cosmetics don't make trains run faster or more reliably nor do they contribute to the bottom line, after all, and stations are valued more for the services they provide (i.e. does it have good connections, a Starbucks, a shopping center, etc.) than to please the local politicians. Railways other than some metros are a for-profit business in Japan, remember.

 

These are Kyushu Shinkansen station architectural models, you can pick and choose and scale up or down the design elements to suit your tastes:

http://homepage3.nifty.com/jam/album/e.html

[bikkuri bahn]

I like (new) Himeji Station, not for the headhouse design (which is currently under construction and is the typical box), but rather the platforms- which are purely functional and minimalist, but incorporate Japanese attention to detail in the form of slatting on the upper portions, mimicking the details found on traditional Japanese buildings, particularly in walls and other dividers. Also the contrast of black and white.  Himeji is a castle town.

 

http://himetetsu.web.fc2.com/page059.html

[scott]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

 

You're right, of course--this is all very subjective. Thanks for the interesting examples.

 

BB -- I understand about cutting costs, but even when the make something more than blank walls, it comes off harsh and ugly (imho).

 

Himeji is a castle town.

 

Yeah--a while back, I checked Hirosaki Station, thinking that it would fit in with the historic town. But it's a big ugly lump. :-)

[Dani]

I liked very much Karuizawa station, that's a photo taken by me but may be you are more lucky than me searching in internet.

 

Cheers,

Dani.

[bikkuri bahn]

Sotetsu Yumegaoka Station:

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/naka_premium/e/9a4827e78653221757d0c83224562fa2

 

Kochi Station:

http://insomnia.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/03/jr_c436.html

 

http://www.misakitty-station.com/sub2-kochi.htm

 

http://www45.tok2.com/home/todo94/trip/trip2008-2/kochieki2008.JPG

 

http://blog-imgs-33.fc2.com/o/b/a/obatetu/200909161347326dc.jpg

 

http://f.hatena.ne.jp/magnificentscenery/20110322185834

 

Hyuga Station:

http://iincho.blogzine.jp/photolife/2008/12/photo152_d5a8.html

 

http://www.kuboyoko.jp/katudo/kd_070516_hyugashi.html

 

http://pics.livedoor.com/u/scarecrow13/5731518

 

http://www.towa-industry.com/images/_DSC0456.JPG

 

http://www.towa-industry.com/images/_DSC0446A.jpg

 

Notice that these stations are stand-alone facilities.  If you have retail, hotels, and other commercial businesses sharing space, that restricts the leeway in design concepts.  But those businesses bring revenue to the railway company and attract passengers.  

[KenS]

It might be a bit "fake", but I find the JR East Yamanote line Harajuku Station an interesting-looking one with its pseudo-European look.

 

I also find the Chuo Line's Ochanomizu station interesting from the perspective of the platforms, as it's a blend of older wooden structures with quite a bit of character with newer sixties-style control towers.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_Public_Transportation_L8609.jpg

 

 

The entrance building itself is less interesting:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ochanomizu-station_1.jpg

[Martijn Meerts]

Harajuku wouldn't look out of place in a Studio Ghibli movie. It looks quite interesting :)

[cteno4]

These are Kyushu Shinkansen station architectural models, you can pick and choose and scale up or down the design elements to suit your tastes:

http://homepage3.nifty.com/jam/album/e.html

 

Bikkuri bahn,

 

thanks those are quite nice for pulling ideas from for the future jrm shinkansen station. been noodling on how to do a center third of the station with a more design style roof and some good thoughts there. the models are great as they pull the station out of the surrounding buildings and much easier to get the over all look and feel than street photos that usually only capture a tiny bit of the station.

 

jeff

[qwertyaardvark]

The entrance gate to the Kanazawa Station is rather artsy~ ^_^

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanazawa_Station

 

http://elsaetjc.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/kanazawa_station.jpg

[scott]

Hi, Qwerty -- Kanazawa *is* pretty interesting. Huge, but interesting. That's a town that I'd like to visit.

[qwertyaardvark]

It is a lovely town~ For me, on top of nostalgic study abroad memories, you can tour the 3rd(?) most beautiful garden in Japan, Kenrokuen Garden, a partially rebuilt Kanazawa Castle, Ninja Temple,  and 21st century art museum. Downtown shopping/night life is not too shabby, but I'd rather bike out to the rice fields anyways~ Do want to visit again someday~ :)

[Mudkip Orange]

Shin-Hikida looks pretty nice. The current station building only dates to 2007. It's on the southern end of the Hokuriku line, at the top of the grade (and spiral tunnel) going up from Tsuruga.

[scott]

That's an interesting one--it'd be even better if they had avoided the "Lincoln Logs" look at the corners. :-) But the wood and stone are definitely good.

 

It's also useful to me because the tracks are at ground level, rather than elevated as in many newer stations.

[Kitayama]

Nikko (JR) is a nice-looking, old-style, station.