Nodeul Cultural Quarter, SEOUL

The project develops a proposal for a new cultural quarter located on Nodeul Island encompassing an Opera House, Concert Hall, Exhibition Spaces and Cultural Arts Learning Centre.

In contrast to the high density, impermeable cellular block organisation that currently occupy the surrounding shores of the River Han, the programme develops a new architectural organisation language in which space flows freely, unbroken and undivided through a series of interconnected structural clusters.

Utilising visual effects pertinent to controlling the saturation of an occupant’s visual field, varying experiential responses are affected. Surface perforation, spatial layering of structural members and clustering of density become systems used to control occupant flows, dissimulate the surrounding cityscape, intensify views at key locations and notate orientation.

The destination led path and meandering path become two devices in which some routes orientate, whilst others become freer, allowing a less contrived programme and an endless variation of opportunities to a visitor. Occupants journey through a series of harmoniously graduated internal, semi-internal and external spaces whilst the island organisation, as a whole, operates as a unique architectural gesture for a city currently lacking its own distinguishing landmark.