The SYNWHA Consortium has been named winners of an international competition for the Busan North Port Redevelopment in South Korea by The Busan Port Authority (BPA) . The winning proposal is an “Interactive Pier” slated to transform the original port into a cultural center that celebrates the marriage of mountains, river, and sea, while crafting dynamic connections between the city of Busan and its seaside.
The urban pier, consisting of an “Independent Platform” and “Flexible Platform,” is designed as a marine landscape featuring a series of promenades. The platform forges the initial connection between the port and city center. A cafe and various marketplaces allow for gathering crowds to invigorate the space with energy and programmatic diversity. Bollards and “Color Poles” perform double-duty as infrastructure during cultural events. An “Emotional Pier” features the “North Port Story Memorial,” gangway, “Harbor Block Garden” and “Nomad Park.” The memorial consists of a six part exhibition, preserved quay wall, and large-scale ship sculptures.
A shallow square pond, miniature gardens, and an urban plaza and “Slope Stand” carve out open space for performances and social events. The urban core run alongs the waterfront and is composed of multiple levels featuring a beach, container, core room, plaza, and dock. These spaces house exhibitions, shops, cafes, an observatory, management center and pop-up stalls. Open air marketplaces attract artists and city-dwellers alike.
Materiality is fairly consistent with the existing concrete of North Port piers and bollards, interspersed with greenery and natural landscaping. The Nomad Park provides sandy beaches and a natural meadow, and functions both as a park for users, and a water purification system.
Project Info:
Competition: Busan North Port Redevelopment Waterfront Park
Award: First Place
Project Name: Interactive Pier
Architects: SYNWHA Consortium
Location: 1187-5 Choryang 3(sam)-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea
Project Team: SYNWHA Consortium (SYNHWA Consulting, Chang-jo Architects, Saman Co, Kunil Engineering, Daea, and BOEH ENC)
Competition Organizers: BPA (Busan Port Authority)
Area: 279372.0 sqm
Project Year: 2016
Photographs: Courtesy of SYNWHA Consulting
