SPACE July 2024 (No. 680)
Winning proposal of Nodeul Global Art Island International Invited Design Competition / Image courtesy of Heatherwick Studio / ©MIR
On May 29, the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced that the winning proposal of the Nodeul Global Art Island International Invited Design Competition was SOUNDSCAPE by Heatherwick Studio (principal, Thomas Heatherwick) + Gansam Architects & Partners (design principal, Chin Kyo-nam). This competition is part of ‘Seoul’s new innovative vision for urban design and architecture’ announced by Oh Se-hoon, mayor of SMG, and aims to create new landmarks in Seoul through creative design. However, after the opening of the multicultural space named ‘Nodeul Island’ (2019), known as Nodeul Dream Island, which had no significant aging or serious design issues, a new architectural competition was launched on the same site without specific reasons for its selection, raising questions about the project (coverd in SPACE No. 677). The winning project aims to create a space on Nodeul Island, located in the middle of the Hangang River, where Seoul citizens can gather, interact with nature, and relax. SOUNDSCAPE plans to naturally connect various activity spaces on the ground with an aerial walkway inspired by the mountains surrounding Seoul and wave-shaped sound waves. The project was highly praised for its unique design, creating multi-layered movements offering diverse experiences to visitors, and for its use of curved stainless steel metal, creating a mystical landscape. Heatherwick Studio also participated in Azabudai Hills (covered in SPACE No. 676), a part of Japan’s urban development in 2023, and Heatherwick was recently appointed as the general director of the 2025 Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism. The project is scheduled to start construction in Feb. next year and aims to be completed by 2027.
