Ahead of the Opening of the 2023 Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale, 'Haneulso' to be Unveiled in May

Seoul City is officially opening the curtain on the event by unveiling a work symbolizing the theme of the '2023 Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale.'

Seoul City announced on the 13th that it will create a sculptural installation called at Yeollin Songhyeon Green Plaza, which will serve as the main exhibition hall for the upcoming '2023 Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale' in September, and will unveil it in early May. Haneulso, meaning 'the place where the sky meets,' will be open to the public until the main event and will be used as an observatory to view the landscape of Seoul.

Sky Beetle Sketch

The 2023 Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale, opening on September 1, is an international event held to present a master plan for Seoul as an eco-friendly high-density city considering natural topographical features, and to highlight Seoul’s role and potential as a future city.

The work Haneulso by chief director architect Jo Byungsoo is a 12-meter-high observatory-type sculpture symbolizing the event’s theme, "City of the Land, Architecture of the Land: Drawing Seoul 100 Years Later as a City of Mountain Paths, Waterways, and Wind Paths." As visitors climb the stairs, they experience viewing Seoul from various perspectives?from the ground to the mountains and the sky.

Architect Jo Byungsoo said about the work, "I focused on the relationship between the surrounding mountain ranges such as Bukak and Inwangsan, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the Songhyeon-dong site," adding, "Through Haneulso, visitors can understand how well Seoul has been arranged considering natural elements like mountains, rivers, wind, and light, and by climbing the stairs, they can continuously experience Seoul’s past, present, and future."

Sky Beetle Conceptual Drawing

Starting with the opening ceremony on May 3, Haneulso will be used as a citizen rest area where people can enjoy the view or relax on the stairs and observatory. From September 1, when the main event begins, it will transform into a thematic exhibition space showcasing diverse works.

Seoul City plans to hold online citizen participation events such as a certified photo contest and live broadcast photo certification events starting with the unveiling of Haneulso. Detailed information can be found on the Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale Instagram.

Han Byungyong, Director of Seoul City’s Housing Policy Office, said, "The 2023 Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale will be a 'new platform for sharing urban architectural paradigms' that draws Seoul’s future together with its citizens," and added, "We hope you climb Haneulso and experience Seoul from a new perspective."