Banpo Hanging Gardens

Strategies for the occupation of the site focus on addressing the existing conditions. Firstly, an accessible route from the surrounding housing to the Han River is formed by building a new structure over the Olympic-daero, restitching the disjointed relationship between the people and the riverside caused by the highway. All circulation will be hung from this route - as a series of gardens occupy the pockets between pathways, the new deck will also become a park space rich with native plant species continuing over the highway and down to the river, as a set of gently sloping ramps navigate the vertical circulation with staircases akin to treetop walkways. Somewhat of a rarity in the dense urban setting, the hanging garden park will become a new destination where residents and locals will enjoy views of the river.

Retaining the old housing block for re-inhabitation as residential apartments not only reduces the net embodied carbon of the proposal, but also allows the retained building to sit as an architectural counterpoint to the new development – a type of ‘found artefact’ on the site which will be carefully restored. A new cultural centre sits beneath the lush green canopy above. Like the setting of a gem, the new building ‘clasps’ the old one, forming a private garden for residents which is set on a lower level than the new public route through the hanging garden park.