In the 1930s, due to the rapid expansion of Kaohsiung's population and urban area, the original station’s western location and narrow hinterland urged governmental plans to relocate. The newly completed Kaohsiung Station is a traditional imperial crown building. As architectural technology and style gradually shifted to modernism, Japanese nationalist thought led to the emergence of imperial crown architecture. The unique roof design and detailed decoration expresses “Oriental whimsy” such as the spire, the ornate triangular facade, and wood-like structure bracket under the poncho, and cast-iron decorations on the round windows are all important features. The main structure is mostly composed of steel-reinforced concrete (SRC), with a steel-frame roof truss porch roof, all of which are contemporary advanced building technologies.
三民／高雄火車站
高雄火車站（高雄驛）興建於1937年至1941年期間，在這個車站完工通車之前，原本的高雄驛位於今哈瑪星地區。1930年代，隨著高雄市人口與市街區快速擴張，舊驛對於新市街區來說地理位置偏西，加上腹地狹小無法擴建，因此有遷站計畫。
新落成的高雄火車站是典型的帝冠式建築。在建築技術與風格逐漸轉向現代主義之際，日本民族主義思想致使帝冠式建築的出現，乃在基本的框架構造下利用屋頂造型、細部裝修表現所謂的「東方趣味」。如攢尖頂、正立面的切妻破風、雨披下的仿木構造托架、以及正立面上部的圓形窗鑄鐵紋飾等等，皆是高雄火車站的重要特徵。
構造主要由鋼骨鋼筋混凝土（SRC）構成，玄關的屋頂則為鋼骨屋架，皆為當代先進的建築技術。
文／蔡侑樺
圖／高雄市政府文化局