Moscow based office SKNYPL created a new proposal for an inflatable garden atop the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture in South Korea. Designed as part of the Seoul Maru Competition, the project was made to form a contemporary gathering space for Seoul citizens and tourists alike. Called New Korean Garden, the project aims to complement and update the roof of the Seoul Hall and create a new unique rooftop experience and landmark for the city.

As SKNYPL explains, the project "personifies the Korean garden, explores it and gives it new meanings. Its color and shape evoke associations with plants, stones, and hills, which form the basis of the theory of harmony in the Korean garden. However, this garden is unusual, it is transformed under the influence of new qualities laid in it by context, time and new events – multi-functionality, flexibility, provocation and dialogue, and sustainability." New Korean Garden is made of ETFE material, filled with air, to be light and mobile.

Functionally, the garden's "field of relax" occupies most of the space. It is made for creative and hedonistic rest. There visitors can gather in a group and talk in a relaxed atmosphere, retire and read a book, lie down and watch the city from the outside, and children also have a playground in the city center. The ETFE material is convenient and recyclable, which completes the story of GARDEN SIMULACRUM.

The project would also be an important part of the Seoul Hall of Urbanism and Architecture and a venue for the Biennale. Small elements are extremely mobile and help shape and change the space for lectures and exhibitions. Due to the mobility of objects, there are a lot of unique iterations. Speakers can prepare the site according to their unique vision and give their own special character. The garden and space becomes a living organism that changes over time. All elements would be covered with a pattern of luminous paint. At night, the garden would be transformed through light and sculpture.

SKNYPL

Space exists as “devoid”. Nevertheless, any work proving the substance of a space is the same as the coercion of a confession. If we are obliged to argue that “devoid” should exist, we will have to make clear the limits of existing and non-existing first.

What cannot be sensed is known as devoid. However, such cognition assumes that the virtual may be the real. It might be more persuasive to present material evidence than argue for a conviction. We may get a confession by presenting evidence of experience. An absolute raison d’etre for the devoid is created by the senses.

It may well be a pun to suggest a fact about devoid, dismissing common sense about the state of being devoid. I attempt to create a situation with the framework of common sense excluded in order to create an absolute situation deviated from it. If the void of common sense should be eliminated, its substance would show up.

Therefore, a space only with a minimally functional opening would look like it is closed tightly. However, the weight, malleability and texture of the resultant space is not closed at all. For the essence of the space discovered cannot be locked in up.

Loaction_ Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul Site area_ 342.60㎡ Building area_ 181.65㎡ Total floor area_ 1,122.04㎡ Building scope_ B2F, 5F Structure_ RC Structure Exterior finishing_ Exposed Concrete Design period_ 10.2002~01.2003 Construction period_ 03.2003~09.2004 Photographer_ Youngchae Park

Archium

Design: studio asylum Architect: Hun Kim Location: Jongno-gu, Seoul Site Area: 488.50㎡ Building Area: 285.78㎡​​ Total Floor Area: 913.64㎡​ Structure: R.C Finish Material: Limestone Project Year: 2012 Photographer: WanSoon Park

studio asylum