RUIN CITY, OR THE VOLUNTARY EVACUATION OF HAEBANGCHON
RUIN CITY recognizes that nature possesses an inherent ability to regenerate and flourish when left undisturbed. Carefully chosen portions of Seoul particularly the Haebangchon area, are deliberately abandoned, allowing them to undergo a process of natural reclamation. These areas become pockets of untamed wilderness, serving as sanctuaries for biodiversity, habitats for wildlife, and places of solace for the human spirit.
The abandoned sections of the Haebangcheon take on a new identity as urban ruins, evoking a sense of history, reflection, and exploration. Like the Piranesian ruins, the crumbling infrastructure and remnants of human habitation
create a fascinating juxtaposition between the past and the present. RUIN CITY celebrates the rich cultural heritage embedded within these ruins, preserving selected structures as landmarks or transforming them into art installations, museums, or educational centers.
Encircling the reclaimed and ruined areas, the new urban perimeter forms a protective barrier, ensuring the sustainable growth and prosperity of the city. This perimeter functions as the artificial boundary between the deliberately abandoned area of the city and the heavely developed.
“SYNTHETIC REALITIES”
HAEBANGCHON AS MAN-MADE ANTIQUITY
Seoul, a city that stands at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, has developed a remarkable attitude towards explicit absence of authenticity. Historic sites were rebuilts only a decade ago. The most popular water stream, Chungyecheon, is basically a man-made aquarium, with water pumped from city’s watermain. Urban lawn littered in the city is polyester. Yet no one seems to question the cosmetic treatment of it all, unbothered by the fakeness of it all.
This audacious embracing of cosmetic layer gives Seoul a distinct character, an identity that challenges the traditional notions of authenticity. In lieu of such manufactured realities, as valid urban elements, can heritage and ruins be simulated? What if antiquity can be manufactured - sped up - as opposed to relying on the “authentic” process of urban decay? In Seoul, perhaps Rome can indeed be built in a day, at least appear to be so.
“PRESERVATION” “ECOLOGY” “LANDSCAPE” “ANTIQUITY”
The site is located in a critical area within the North South green coridor of Seoul. It links the green space between Namsan Mountain and the soon to be planned Yongsan Park, as well as the tangential region between numerous Seoul Green Rings.
MISSING LINK
The site is located in a critical area within the North South green coridor of Seoul. It links the green space between Namsan Mountain and the soon to be planned Yongsan Park, as well as the tangential region between numerous Seoul Green Rings.
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RUIN CITY: SYNTHETIC ANTIQUITIES OF HAEBANGCHON
2023/06/01
SEOUL 100 YEAR MASTERPLAN # @
“GREEN AXIS”
The site is located in a critical area within the North South green coridor of Seoul. It links the green space between Namsan Mountain and the soon to be planned Yongsan Park, as well as the tangential region between numerous Seoul Green Rings.
The site is among the “missing links”between green spaces on the upper portion of the North South Green Link. The proposal aims to be the first stage in patching the disconnected natural landscape, a proposal which eventually extends further to Sewoon and Ichon-dong.
Currently, the green link between Namsan and Yongsan park remains discconected by the continous urban sprawl that existed in this area for over seventy years.
In a bold approach, a deliberate evacuation of HBC up to the newly established. The project proposes a new boundary for the city where beyond this border, the civilization is withdrawn. HBC is “liberated”from urban activity, allowing nature to reclaim the space. This deliberate act fosters a profound connection between the built environment and the forces of nature, reimagining the relationship between urban and natural landscapes.
CITY NO MAN`S LAND CITY
GREEN RECLAIMATION
HBC is “liberated”from urban activity, allowing nature to reclaim the space. This deliberate act fosters a profound connection between the built environment and the forces of nature, reimagining the relationship between urban and natural landscapes.
RUIN CITY: SYNTHETIC ANTIQUITIES OF HAEBANGCHON
“URBAN FENCE”
TOWER FOOTPRINT ROTATION
LESS NATURAL
RUIN CITY: SYNTHETIC ANTIQUITIES OF HAEBANGCHON
MORE NATURAL “RUIN”
NATURE EXISTING WITHIN URBAN TERRITORY
NATURE RECLAIMING OVER FORMER URBAN TERRITORY
LARGELY UNTOUCHED NATURAL TERRITORY
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RUIN CITY: SYNTHETIC ANTIQUITIES OF HAEBANGCHON
“RUIN PORN”
The crumbling infrastructure and remnants of human habitation create a fascinating juxtaposition between the past and the present. RUIN CITY celebrates the rich cultural heritage embedded within these ruins, preserving selected structures as landmarks as subject of fascination and mystery.
PHASE 2 PHASE 1 PHASE 3
EXISTING RECLAIMATION
EXISTING
RUIN CITY: SYNTHETIC ANTIQUITIES OF HAEBANGCHON
TOTEM(n.) ˈwil-dər-nəs: Reclaimed urban area abandoned to be completely engulfed by flora and fauna.
WILDERNESS(n.) ˈwil-dər-nəs: Reclaimed urban area abandoned to be completely engulfed by flora and fauna.
RUIN(n.) ˈrü-ən: Urban area left to its partial decay.
PARK(n.) pärk: Curated natural landscape for recreation and leisure.
WILDERNESS RUIN PARK
repurposed urban area transformed into leisure and recreational greenspace,
area with the intention to preserve the built environment that slowly erodes over time.
territory without any control and left untouched throughout, interaction only occuring at a distance.
