Opening of 10m High Elevator Observatory in Bulamsan Healing Town This April... Ensuring Safety, Convenience, and Accessibility for the Elderly, Disabled, and Mobility-Impaired
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that Bulamsan Observatory received the Ministerial Award at the '2021 Korea Spatial Culture Awards.'
The 'Korea Spatial Culture Awards,' jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Institute of Architects, have been awarded since 2006 to raise social interest in quality living spaces and improve the cultural quality of life for citizens.
As it comprehensively evaluates design, usability, and contributions to local culture across public and private spaces nationwide, it is recognized as an authoritative award in the public architecture field.
The district achieved this honor for the second time, following the Ministerial Award received by ‘Hannae Wisdom Forest’ in 2017.
This year’s award, the Nuri Shelter Award, is given to natural-friendly resting places loved by local residents that harmonize with their surroundings. Bulamsan Observatory was praised for utilizing its locational advantage where nature and the city blend, demonstrating a good direction for public architecture as a space for residents’ rest and relaxation.
The observatory, opened in April, was newly built to replace the old one and added an elevator, allowing elderly and disabled people, among other mobility-impaired users, to access the observatory and enjoy the surrounding scenery together, which received favorable reviews.
The 2.1 km circular walking trail around the observatory is a barrier-free forest path accessible by electric wheelchairs and strollers, frequently used by mobility-impaired individuals, but previously they could not reach the observatory itself, which was a significant disappointment.
The observatory, with a total floor area of 143.57㎡ and a height of 10 meters, was designed to be accessible from three directions, including a 15-passenger elevator and gently curved staircases on both sides.
The top observation floor attracts attention with a design themed ‘Cultural and Artistic Playground in the Forest,’ shaped like a butterfly flapping its wings. The spacious and relaxed space and elegant curved design naturally blend with the surrounding forest. It especially gives the impression of a butterfly taking flight from the ‘Nabi Garden,’ one of the attractions of Bulamsan Healing Town, symbolically expressing the theme of the Healing Town.
The view from the observatory is also exceptional. By raising the height more than 2 meters compared to the previous observatory, visitors can overlook Seoul’s famous mountains such as Suraksan, Dobongsan, and Bukhansan, as well as every corner of Nowon-gu.
The organizers highly evaluated the observatory in their judging comments, stating, “It provides a delicate vantage point that is not overwhelming in nature, facing the distant cityscape and the weight of Bulamsan in the foreground.”
A resident of Junggye-dong, who frequently visits the Bulamsan walking trail, said, “The spaces accessible by wheelchair were limited, but thanks to the barrier-free walking trail, I have come to enjoy the forest as a companion. With the addition of the elevator-accessible observatory, it has become an even more special place.”
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “The installation of Bulamsan Observatory aimed to allow mobility-impaired people to heal together in nature, and I am pleased that the district’s efforts to embody this value in public design have been well received. We will continue to create premium urban spaces where people, nature, and the city coexist.”
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