Multi-layered Garden, Forest Playground, and Other Ecological Parks
Walking Paths and Trails Leading to the Han River
Architects Sojin Lee and Hyewon Shin's Entry Selected as First Prize
Created as Public Contribution in Banpo Jugong Complex 1 (Districts 1, 2, and 4)
A covered park, the first in Seoul, connecting Banpo-dong to Banpo Hangang Park will be developed as an ecological park. The final design was selected through an international design competition, with architects Sojin Lee and Hyewon Shin among the joint entrants. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027 as a public contribution of the Banpo Jugong 1 Complex reconstruction project.
Perspective view of the ecological park selected as the first prize in the international design competition (Photo provided by Seoul City)
On the 9th, Seoul City announced that the first prize in the international design competition for the Banpo District Hangang Connection Park and cultural facility was awarded to a joint proposal by architect Sojin Lee (Architecture Office Lyon), who designed the Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum, architect Hyewon Shin (Professor at Monash University, Australia), who served as the general director of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, and Lucas Schweingruber from Zurich-based landscape company Studio Vulkan.
Architects Sojin Lee and Hyewon Shin have been interested in connecting the Hangang River and the city since participating in the improvement of Hangang access points as part of the 2008 Hangang Renaissance. Architect Shin served as the overall coordinator for the improvement of the Shinbanpo access point, while architect Lee directly participated in the improvement of the Mapo terminus access point.
The selected ecological covered park is characterized by preserving the natural ground as much as possible, giving citizens the feeling of standing in a wide field. In the area extending from Shinbanpo-ro to Hangang Park, multi-layered gardens, trails, and walking paths will be created, allowing visitors to walk all the way to the Hangang River. Ecological experience spaces such as barefoot walking paths, forest playgrounds, and meadows, along with diverse plantings, will enable enjoyment of green spaces within the urban environment.
The Banpo District Hangang Connection Park project covers 43,362㎡ including multi-layered complexes and nearby small parks, with 10,000㎡ dedicated to the covered park and cultural facilities (3,300㎡ exhibition hall). The park will also include a complex cultural space and community facilities capable of hosting various cultural events.
Perspective view of the first prize-winning design for the international design competition of the cultural facility (Provided by Seoul City)
Seoul City conducted the international design competition starting in February and carried out the evaluation in two stages. On the 4th, a public presentation was held with the participation of about 200 citizens and a panel of expert judges to select the final first prize winner. The technical review committee also evaluated the proposal as highly feasible due to its excellent constructability and safety.
The selected design team will be officially appointed as the final designer after the resolution process at the Banpo Jugong 1 Complex (Districts 1, 2, and 4) union general meeting scheduled for September, in accordance with the Urban and Residential Environment Improvement Act. After the union general meeting resolution, the basic design will proceed, and the detailed design will be carried out by a company selected by the union.
Im Chang-su, Director of Future Space Planning at Seoul City, said, "The Banpo District Hangang Connection Park and cultural facilities competition was a challenging design contest that satisfied both design and technical aspects. We expect it to become a new model for Hangang connections and a landmark of the Hangang River."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
