Winners of Seoul MARU 2019 Design Competition

Project description by

First Prize

The 'communicating inflatable roof' is the new face of Seoul floor that citizens make together. Balloons that fluctuate depending on people's use can be seen at a glance, even when viewed from anywhere, but they do not obscure the existing landscape and context. Ad balloon, gym ball and bean bag also fulfill the functions of lighting, shade, toys, chairs, etc. while creating a festive atmosphere for everyone. In a park made of balloons, citizens will experience a variety of experiences, from relaxing on the way through to bouncing the ball or watching a large performance. Through the 'excursion roof', Seoul Maru will be reborn as a symbol of everyday life and the center of the Biennale.

Second Prize

SPREAD of Seoul MARU 서울마루 위에 서울을 펼치다 ‘SPREAD of Seoul MARU’ proposes a gentle curved roof spread out over the Seoul MARU with deployable panel system to vitalize ‘Seoul MARU’ for various urban activities and events. The silhouette of the proposed roof is slightly floating from the existing straight roof to harmonize together by giving a tension between two and the lightness of temporary. The deployable panels adapt various activities by diverse arrangements with pivoting and pushing-up, and panels are used for exhibitions, information, illuminated colors, and traditional window patterns to make a space lively. This gentle curved roof is a place to play a role of a square where people can relax, rest, play and enjoy with cultural and artistic activities. The perimeter of panels divides space into ‘마당 (open space)’ and ‘회랑 (cloister) where people circulate by looking at both exhibition panels and surroundings together while ‘마당 (open space)’ keeps its original function and events. The mode can be changed when all deployable panels are pushed up, it allows uninterrupted view across the heart of Seoul. People are able to see the timeline of Seoul from Deoksugung (Chosun) to Seoul city Hall (present). This gentle curved roof is also spread into surroundings. Its reflective material under the roof makes it sit seamlessly within the urban context, reflecting the historic pavement patterns and nearby buildings. In consideration of fast-track and limited budget, proposal only utilizes 46% of the project area and only 24 slender columns touch the floor for the minimum impact on the existing building as a temporary installation. Lightweight steel is applied for the roof structure as modular approach to make it easy to assemble and dismantle after use.

Third Prize

“Maybe clouds came down from the sky.”-Bae OO, Yeouido-cho First graders We always imagine. In the past, someone here on the floor of Seoul floor would have shared hope with beautiful rivers, and someone would have shared their anguish and communicated with others. Small imaginations like the clouds of the past gathered to become the present history and made us now. Imaginations with various emotions (like stories and speculations) often float above their heads like clouds. With so many worries in everyday life, big and small worries, expectations for future life, these imaginary pieces will be united like clouds in search of another history. I believe this will lead to better thinking and future guidance. We would like to collect the big and small imaginations in Seoul floor, which contains a layer of time again. The Seoul Cloud is shaped like a speech balloon and cloud, imaginary pieces of various people, and floats on the floor of Seoul, the center of Seoul.