Seoul Performing Arts Center

In Architecture

An Integrated Cultural and Ecological Vision for Seoul

The new Performing Arts Center is poised to become the universally recognized icon for Seoul, one that is synonymous with Seoul’s dynamic identity. The Center serves as a powerful symbol—one that evokes an instantaneous and indelible impression of Seoul as a global steward of the environment and culture, with an optimistic vision and commitment to the future.

The Han River has represented the symbolic center of Korean culture, economics and politics, since Seoul’s designation as the capital of the Chosun Dynasty over six centuries ago. The unique symbolism and position of Nodul Island, at the heart of contemporary Seoul, is the impetus for our design. The scheme is unequivocally unique to the ecology and topography of its site: it redefines the site boundaries to encompass the whole island, incorporates a nature preserve as an integral part of the design, and brings the surrounding water onto the site. Beyond simply a proposal for a building complex, the comprehensive design for the new Seoul Performing Arts Center (SPAC) transforms the entire island into a world-class cultural destination and an ecological haven.

Posted: Aug 24th, 2009 / Last Edited: Apr 8th, 2011 Print

Description

Iconic Jewel and Urban Connector: A World-Class Performing Arts Destination

Positioned, literally, at the heart of Seoul, the SPAC connects the social and cultural fabric on both sides of the Han River—the Gangbuk historical city north of the river with the Gangnam newer development south of the river. The architecture becomes, by virtue of its sculpted and indelible form, a civic jewel in the river, with distinct facets visible from all corners of the city. From the banks of the Hangang and vantage points throughout Seoul, the SPAC appears to shift continually—not a fixed image but rather a dynamic structure that responds to its site, environment, and time of day. The SPAC’s form bifurcates to house the distinct volumes of the two performance halls: the northern Opera Theater and the southern Symphony Hall. From the Gangnam (to the south), the primary view is of the undulating forms of the Center as they interact with and integrate with the surrounding landscape; from the Gangbuk (to the north), the SPAC’s reflective forms reach out over the water, to establish a distinctive and iconic civic landmark. The SPAC transforms diurnally: by day, its skin appears reflective, shimmering with light bounced off the water, while by night it appears to glow, its translucent skin revealing the activity within.

When a visitor crosses onto the island, he transitions from his daily urban life to the ceremonial experience of performance, to the respite of the nature preserve. From the island, the visitor enjoys both the new Center’s cultural assets and nature preserve, while simultaneously experiencing a unique perspective on the river and the city beyond.

A Dynamic Arrival: Public Plaza & Great Canyon

Our scheme incorporates a new public plaza—a valuable asset to the city of Seoul that reinforces the SPAC as a civic destination. Approaching from Han River Bridge, the public plaza welcomes visitors and provides an outdoor space for groups to congregate. From the plaza, visitors enjoy views of both the Center to the east and the sweeping landscape to the west.

The dynamic arrival sequence incrementally reveals spectacular views of the water, the performance halls, and the natural terrain. From a recessed drop off point, the visitor ascends across the gently sloping plaza to arrive at the new Performing Art Center’s grand entry. At this moment, the forms of the two performance halls converge. The visitor slips between the surging forms into the main lobby, as if passing through a dramatic natural canyon that frames a long view of the water. Alternately, prior to formal entry into the Grand Lobby, the visitor can proceed directly up to the SPAC’s Studio Theater or restaurant.

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Iconic Jewel and Urban Connector: A World-Class Performing Arts Destination

Positioned, literally, at the heart of Seoul, the SPAC connects the social and cultural fabric on both sides of the Han River—the Gangbuk historical city north of the river with the Gangnam newer development south of the river. The architecture becomes, by virtue of its sculpted and indelible form, a civic jewel in the river, with distinct facets visible from all corners of the city. From the banks of the Hangang and vantage points throughout Seoul, the SPAC appears to shift continually—not a fixed image but rather a dynamic structure that responds to its site, environment, and time of day. The SPAC’s form bifurcates to house the distinct volumes of the two performance halls: the northern Opera Theater and the southern Symphony Hall. From the Gangnam (to the south), the primary view is of the undulating forms of the Center as they interact with and integrate with the surrounding landscape; from the Gangbuk (to the north), the SPAC’s reflective forms reach out over the water, to establish a distinctive and iconic civic landmark. The SPAC transforms diurnally: by day, its skin appears reflective, shimmering with light bounced off the water, while by night it appears to glow, its translucent skin revealing the activity within.

When a visitor crosses onto the island, he transitions from his daily urban life to the ceremonial experience of performance, to the respite of the nature preserve. From the island, the visitor enjoys both the new Center’s cultural assets and nature preserve, while simultaneously experiencing a unique perspective on the river and the city beyond.

A Dynamic Arrival: Public Plaza & Great Canyon

Our scheme incorporates a new public plaza—a valuable asset to the city of Seoul that reinforces the SPAC as a civic destination. Approaching from Han River Bridge, the public plaza welcomes visitors and provides an outdoor space for groups to congregate. From the plaza, visitors enjoy views of both the Center to the east and the sweeping landscape to the west.

The dynamic arrival sequence incrementally reveals spectacular views of the water, the performance halls, and the natural terrain. From a recessed drop off point, the visitor ascends across the gently sloping plaza to arrive at the new Performing Art Center’s grand entry. At this moment, the forms of the two performance halls converge. The visitor slips between the surging forms into the main lobby, as if passing through a dramatic natural canyon that frames a long view of the water. Alternately, prior to formal entry into the Grand Lobby, the visitor can proceed directly up to the SPAC’s Studio Theater or restaurant.

Grand Lobby & Dramatic Views of the Water
After passing through the glazed entry, the visitor arrives at the Grand Lobby, his perspective extended with expansive views of a reflecting pool and the river beyond, through a faceted, full-height glass curtain wall. As the visitor gazes upward, a series of dynamic tiers (which serve as foyers for each hall) project overhead, animating the soaring interior space. He may then choose to ascend to the performance halls, or to descend to explore the viewing deck and bar/café along the water’s edge. Recessed below water level, the viewing deck situates the surface of the reflecting pool at the viewer’s eye level—affording the illusion of being “in” the water while standing on dry ground.

A Transition from Daily Life to the World of Performance The formal entry sequence leading from the Grand Lobby to the performance halls conveys the civility, cosmopolitan nature, and symbolism of the opera and the symphony. Throughout the procession, guests enjoy views to the river and city beyond while simultaneously engaging in and themselves becoming part of the public spectacle—the “theater within theater,” as they gaze upon their fellow performance-goers. In the tradition of Garnier’s Paris Opéra and Sharoun’s Berlin Philharmonic, life becomes theater.

From the Grand Lobby, the guest ascends to the Opera or Symphony Lobby; is directed to the proper foyer tier to access theater seating; then enters the pristine sculptural form of the hall—transported into the captivating world of the performance. While the 1,600-seat Opera Theater’s comprises a classic format and stately character, its acoustics are optimized to afford an intimate experience of the sound and intensify the connection between audience and performers. The 2000-seat, state-of-the-art Concert Hall’s levels of balconies, refined form, and lush material palette lend a majestic scale to the hall.

Gracious Promenade to the Eco-Park
A rooftop promenade takes performance-goers and the public from the Performing Arts Center to the Eco-Park and the Amphitheater on the western side of the island. From the top-floor restaurant, the visitor traverses the green roof, via an exterior promenade. Small shops, studios and a learning center line the promenade as it passes over Han River Bridge. The promenade then splits into three paths leading to the Eco-Park’s three zones, rendering the entire island accessible to the public.
Symbiotic Relationship Between Building, Landscape and Water

Our proposal creates an environment that functions as an ecological and cultural oasis—a complementary counterpoint to Seoul’s dynamism and intensity. Our scheme augments the Nodul Island landscape with a new Eco-Park and integrates with the surrounding water, to offer city dweller and international visitor alike a natural respite from one of the world’s most populous and vibrant urban centers. The SPAC’s architectural forms move into and out of the island’s sculpted terrain, interweaving building with landscape and built environment with site. The design not only affords a valuable natural public amenity, but also maximizes energy efficiency and the responsible use of resources for the Performing Arts Center, extending the City’s ongoing sustainable initiatives.

Integrating Water
The scheme fundamentally re-shapes the island, bringing water onto the site to integrate with the architecture, accentuating the island’s symbiotic connection to the river. At the eastern tip of the island, the barrier of the low sea wall defines a permanent, controlled reflecting pool, visually connected with the river via an infinity edge. The Eastern faceted glass façade cants forward to capture shimmering light reflected off the surface of the pool. A series of public gathering spaces overlook the reflecting pool, giving visitors a more direct and visceral experience of the water.

Water also plays a key role in the SPAC’s cutting edge sustainable systems: to condition the building and maximize energy efficiency, water from the building passes through a pipe submerged in the river, where it is cooled and used as a heat pump. A separate system collects rainwater and grey water, and distributes it to the nature reserve, where plant species and ground materials naturally filter the water. The cleaned water then moves on to the reflecting pool, and finally flows over the infinity edge back into the river.

An Ecological Haven
By concentrating the program areas for the SPAC and the Music Park for Youth around the Han River Bridge, the scheme cedes the remaining open space for an extensive nature preserve. The Eco-Park comprises three landscape zones, each accessible to the public via promenades and paths.

- The Great Lawn: Behind the Amphitheater, the manicured Great Lawn affords a more informal viewing area for the Music Park for Youth performances, and a recreational space when performances are not in session.
- Wetlands: The wetlands conform with the island’s natural topography and function as a key sustainable component. The wetlands maintain habitat for the island’s endangered toad, and facilitate the water management and natural filtration system. - Wooded grasslands: Woods and grasslands ring the western tip of the island, providing a shaded natural destination just outside the city.

Our proposal capitalizes on the unique attributes of the site—its topography, its waterfront, its singular views of Seoul, its symbolism and history—to create an international landmark for Seoul. When complete, the new Seoul Performing Arts Center and Nodul Island will be completely and inseparably integrated, in a project that, like Utzon’s Opera House for Sydney, will come to define the city of Seoul’s rising cultural influence.

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