Busan 2003
Sout Korea
PROGRAM : Artificial Islands for a Leisure Centre
LOCATION : The Gwangali Water Front and The Gwangan Grand Bridge Area of Busan
SURFACE AREA : 450 000 M²
CLIENT : Biarc 2003, Ahn Sang-Young Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City
COST : US $ 550 000 Millions
PRIZE : Honourable mention winner
The construction seems impossible on this site because the perspectives from the hills of Busan and the Gwangalli Beach must be safeguarded to maintain the existing historical landscape. It is thus under the level of the ocean where a sensuous territory of 1.5 kilometer length on 800 meters width takie place. It is connected to the bridge whose use is maximized and identity reinforced. These are indeed the pillars which manage flux towards the Atoll and connects it therefore to the city. The edge of the sea becomes thus a new center of the Busan City.
1. The Roof :
. The watery and glazed roof of the Atoll becomes its main ground established with the strong current of water and tallying the horizon. Inside or outside, new incredible views are offered to the hills, the sea and the city. This roof embraces in its sinuous relief the swimming pools bordered of beaches and the great artificial lake located in the center of the Atoll. Its watery identity fits perfectly in the site like the single place of the meetings between nature and humanity. Moreover, the roof has a bioclimatic role. Its solar collectors composed of thousands of photovoltaic cells produces energy for the night life of the Atoll. Indeed at night the fluid lines of this horizontal landscape seem to illuminate the Ocean like a box of light inviting the metropolis with a poetic initiation.
2. The Islands :
. Under the zero level of the ocean, where the sea and the Sueyong River are embraced, thirteen artificial islands are inserted in the marine depths on five stages, generator of entertainment, tourism and culture programmation. In a visual silence, they are articulated by topics around three huge extraordinary gardens resulting from the culture and the Korean natural origin. These gardens are the territories of the exchanges and the meetings of the community and unify the islands between them along their voluptuous curves. But at the top of these islands, on their own roof, gardens of activities are installed such as the Asian agricultural cultures. Each island propose a different universe to the visitors, although every islands are dedicated to leisure of the body and spirit.
3. The Seashore :
The new seashore of the Atoll stretches its beaches in the center of the bay. In the city from the bank of the Atoll, we feel the animation of architectures and lives at the base of the hills facing the Atoll. On the Horizon side, a quiet shore is in harmony with nature and admires the Infinite Ocean. Looking toward the pillars of the Gwangan Grand Bridge, there is a permanent choreography of walkers who run out along the slopes from public transports roads of the bridge to the great car park level located on the ocean floor.
The Atoll is thus presented in the form of a quiet scenography, a symbolic project for a communication without artifices. It is a generous project with strong identity ready to confirm the cultural and tourist role of the Busan Metropolis on a world level.
Copyright : Vincent Callebaut Architectures
All rights reserved.