Our culture of the avant-garde in architecture has been tempted by adding differences to the city. In case of Han River and the culture of waterfront development in Seoul, the city has had the dominant force to add ‘iconic objects’ or ‘excessive designs’ hoping to express the diverse and dynamic culture of public activity. Therefore, the city has been interested in adding more icons, to enhance the amenity and commercial activity. Architects have been at the center of this mission to guide the cultural agenda by adding differences and iconography.

However, the contemporary metropolis no longer hosts singular identity. The city is already full of ‘differences’. The heterogeneous desires of people and dynamism from the public activity cannot be captured from the architectural character. Once the architecture is delivered to the public, we no longer able to foresee how people will use it in what way. Therefore, the architecture of Unduk-Naru focuses on fundamentally dynamic quality such as waiting, meeting, playing, departing etc. To respond to this, we want to provide an open platform.

It is a hill and trees. Architecture as physical presence must disappear and the eventful public activities should emerge as a facade of the Unduk-Naru. The part to whole relationship in Unduk-Naru is learned from the Jogakbo, a Korean traditional wrapping cloth from the Joseon Dynasty (14c-19c Korea), used to wrap, cover, or carry things in daily life. It is made with remnants of fabrics from leftover cloths by unknown people to save materials. On the contrary to the intention of ‘artworks’, the colorful composition and geometry is a beautiful coincidence, the practical result of the availability of left-over fabrics.

We will provide 5 or more standardized finish materials (Teak, Ipe, Ipe-stained, Composite for larger event area, Landscape planter box, walkable solar PV etc). People can select one of them, donate fund or purchase the small portion and attach their engraved names and messages. The engraved names and the meaningful participation constitutes the whole hill as unique and dynamic harmony to form an image of participatory placemaking. Collaborator: Youngseop Lee (Technical Architect) Credits: - Youngseop Lee