The team including Simplex Architecture, Dongsimwon, and studio201 has won the Yisabu Dokdo Memorial Park International Competition. The contest involved designing a memorial and an immense park in the South Korean city, Samcheok. The venue will pay homage to the journey that General Yisabu went on to the isles of Dokdo and Usanguk about 1200 years ago.
Courtesy of Simplex Architecture
The site has an area of 24,600 sqm and is located by the Sea of Japan. The new park will partly function as an educational center in addition to its primary role which revolves around enhancing tourism in the area.
Courtesy of Simplex Architecture
The architectural team’s plan, which is dubbed ‘Disclosed Nature’, focuses on revealing the authentic beauty of the area’s landscape. The plan also blends well with the neighboring historic buildings which include a community center, a temple, and a fire station.
The design theoretically divides the site into three “natures”, the first one is the geographical nature “regionality”, the second is the topological nature “earth”, while the last is the hydrological nature “sea”.
Courtesy of Simplex Architecture
The topological nature includes digging up the earth to expose the ancient topography, revealing the way the site was during the time of the general’s voyages. The hydrological nature is where the designers will reincorporate water into the venue, promising the public a good time at the park and the museum. The geographical nature involves developing the currently-existing historic and cultural elements.
Courtesy of Simplex Architecture
The revamp of the existing site will go hand in hand with the construction of several new features like the Yisabu Memorial Hall, the Tourist Information Center, the Art and Culture Village, and the Dodko Experience Space.
The Yisabu Memorial Hall, which will reside in a beautiful water garden, will comprise exhibition areas and galleries. Leading visitors from the street down to the memorial’s level, the Tourist Information Center will offer information and educational experiences to the tourists.
The Art and Culture Village will be built among new open areas, which the designers have proposed, whereas the Dokdo Experience Space will comprise historical exhibition areas.
