Daejeon, South Korea | Type: Competition | Size: n/a | Year: 2025
Our proposal, the Space Between, is envisioned as a continuous bridge (Gyo-ryang) of program amidst the gardens of Hanbat, that is poetically connected by a void (Gong), or a space of potential, renewal and cyclicality. As such, Gong becomes a meaningful metaphor, not only in how we propose to connect both the East and West Arboretum, but also in its affinity towards nature and the natural environment.
As demonstrated in our conceptual diagrams, all required program is conceived as a singular line in the landscape, that is dramatically broken and elevated at a 30° angle when it meets the Citizen Expo Square. In this instance, the void (Gong) takes on another level of meaning; by creatively framing the protected views to the north (eg. Expo Bridge, Hanbit Tower and the Useongisan Mountains) and south (eg. Rolling Sheds, etc.).
In this instance, two symmetrical observation decks emerge quietly from the landscape, providing unlimited 360 views out to both the East and West Arboretum as well as the Gapcheon river valley below. The base of the towers trail out into the landscape, housing the convenience facilities, washrooms, a restaurant/bar, a children’s lounge and a hall nestled on a hill amongst the forest. Conceived as a continuous ‘ribbon of program’, the resultant architecture provides an open-ended, inclusive and welcoming social infrastructure for all ages and levels of mobility.
With few exceptions, our proposal is comprised of 95% Cross Laminated Timber for its structure, walls, floors roof and cladding. Given our unique place in the world, Canada, we have a deep understanding and appreciation of heavy timber and wanted to push the limits of what this material can do in our proposal. The current renaissance that heavy timber/CLT is having in South Korea promises not to be a neoconservative return to tradition, but rather will enable the new generation of architects and engineers to re-interpret this ancient material through the lens of the ‘digital’; crafting a new sensibility towards how we can construct our cities in a more socially, culturally and sustainable way.
It is our hope that the Space Between demonstrates this and becomes a source of pride for the Hanbat Arboretum and, by extension, the City of Daejeon.
*This project was completed in close collaboration with Ju-Yeon Park