Dutch bureau «MVRDV» won the competition to redesign the Tancheon Valley and Seoul’s waterfront. Instead of highways and parking lots there will be a landscape park along the river with a network of footpaths and bicycle paths.
The project was commissioned by the Seoul Government. It is planned to complete the project by 2024. Architects from “MVRDV” and the local studio “NOW Architects” have proposed a concept called «The Weaves». According to the jury, the project strikes the right balance between the environment and creation of new recreation venues for citizens in the city center.
According to “MVRDV” experts, the project covers the area between the former Olympic Stadium in Seoul and the central business district of Kannam. The renovation involves transformation of the Tangcheon and Han River embankment.
The concept of “The Weaves” is aimed at combining three landscape elements: a natural park, pedestrian zones and spaces for city events.
Partner and founder of “MVRDV” Vini Maas noted that Seoul is taking amazing steps, turning grey and outdated infrastructure into living green spaces. According to Vini Maas, this also corresponds to the local identity. Jamsil (Seoul district — ed.) is known for its history of silk production, and the design of the new landscape park in the «MVRDV» project resembles tangled silk threads.
The central element of the project is a pedestrian bridge connecting the Kannam district with the Olympic Park. The network of winding paths will provide easy access for pedestrians to all objects of the quay. The paths rise and fall up and down again, intersect, divide, unite and turn, forming squares, observation decks, amphitheaters, cafes and other public spaces.
The main goal is to restore the small river to its natural state. Concrete banks are transformed into a green valley, changing the riverbed from a straight canal to a winding stream.
The project implementation is scheduled for 2021.
Source: designboom.com