SEOUL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Seoul, Korea
In 2005, the city of Seoul organized an international competition for a new Performing Arts Center on an existing island in the Hang River. The program for the new center consists of an opera house, a concert hall, a music conservatory, museum, recording studios and other support functions. The proposal calls for a complete remake of the existing island.
A series of 10 bands, each separated by water-gardens, harmoniously divides the event occurring above and below. While the program activities are generally located within the “bands”, the complete exterior is shaped as an accessible roofscape.
Differences between landscape and building are not apparent and the entire island develops into a solid “rock-like” shape in the river. The stepping edges of the new island provide equal shore conditions during the widely fluctuating water levels of the river. A hydro-dynamic study was conducted to ensure minimal impact of the new island on the existing river shore.
POLYPHONIC RIVERSCAPE​
The island’s musical landscape envelopes the Performing Arts Center in its core, while its polyphonic crust emerges from the river as a powerful landmark for the music culture of Seoul. Music, architecture, and landscape fuse into a harmonic flow that establishes a symbol for Korean music, culture, and lifestyle.
The undulating landscape blankets the entire island and is fully accessible to the public, becoming a popular attraction for the citizens of Seoul.
The music library, museum, conservatory, and recording studios complete the performing arts complex and enhance the preservation of classical music culture. Within the landscape, landings and gardens act as personal amphitheaters for impromptu performances while massive water walls mesmerize with their falling rhythm.
The sloping riverscape equalizes the islands shore condition during the yearly fluctuation of the river. The island acts as a gauge, revealing its dynamic nature as the river rises and falls.
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Architecture and landscape are combined into a vast field that encompasses the entire island. Ten horizontal bars span a polyphonic field in the direction of the river flow. Opera house, concert hall, library and museum, a conservatory and auxiliary functions are enveloped by the field and accessible from the central plaza.
ACCESS:​
Access to Nodeul island is provided by a generous turn out from the Hangtang Bridge featuring drop off lobby for the Performing Arts Center visitors, bus stops, and service loops. In addition, the new subway station at the southern shore of the Hangtang River will be connected by a separate footbridge. Ferry terminals to the north and the south of the island will further enhance public access.
LANDSCAPE:​
A series of 10 bands, each separated by water gardens, harmoniously divides the events occurring above and below. The bands are formed by series of stairs, landings, platforms and gardens. The water gardens are moments for repose in the perpetually moving view. They are places for musicians to practice and for people to sit. Music does not occur without movement: Circulating on and under this crust translates the composer´s notation into a multiplicity of visual-spatial experiences. A series of water walls introduces yet another event into this field condition creating a delicate and mesmerizing visual experience with the added benefit of cooling during the hot season.
At the center of the island, the flat portion of the landscape forms a generous plaza extending over the bridge connecting all of the arts center’s activities. Large openings at the plaza level link to the arrival and traffic level below affording a sense of place, orientation and visual interest for the vehicular traffic.
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ACTIVITIES:​
Aside from the new opera house and concert hall for 1500 visitors each and their typical support functions, the new complex will include a conservatory, museum and library especially dedicated to music, restaurants, and retail. The facility will be supported by a series of smaller performance and recital halls, a large outdoor amphitheater and various intimate practice and performance spaces dispersed across the entire island. The accessible roofscape provides a large public park, encouraging the enjoyment of leisurely activities and providing a stage and meeting place for the entire population of Seoul.
