The Nodeul Island design process is a radical departure for public space development and programming in South Korea. This project serves as an important case study for future developments, where the concept was developed through citizen participation, and the government selected the operations team first to prepare the operation strategy, before having the facilities designed, and before the final programs were produced. By becoming a unique destination, Noduel Island has leveraged its isolated location in the river into a great advantage. As an urban haven, Nodeul Island is a place that allows one to leave the mundane and to reacquaint people and nature in one of the densest urbanize cities in the world.

INSPIRE is an expansive entertainment-integrated resort located on Yeongjong Island, South Korea, near the Incheon International Airport. The resort provides a wide range of resort facilities and entertainment options, which offer an unforgettable experience to visitors of all generations worldwide. The landscape of INSPIRE is designed to disclose and maximize the value of its surrounding nature, providing people with various inspiring moments that change with the day and night and seasons. The resort is built on reclaimed soft ground and saline ground conditions, due to its geographical location near the West Sea.

The project site is situated neither in Dokdo, which holds an inherent value and story of its own, nor in a metropolitan city like Seoul, which could provide better accessibility. Instead, the site is located near the sea, offering visitors an opportunity to experience its natural beauty with all five senses. Additionally, Mt. Yukhyang, situated on the site, was once an island from where Yisabu launched his voyage to Usanguk, now known as Ulleungdo and Dokdo. The project “Disclosed Nature” aims to showcase the natural and historical characteristics of the site and its components. By unveiling three natures of the stie (the topographical nature, hydrological nature, and geographical nature of the site), Yisabu Dokdo Memorial Park will become a significant place where people can experience Yisabu Dokdo through the integrated architecture and landscape proposed in the project.

“A world divided by nature, but where everything works and is possible. I want to go to that world.”

A natural swimming pool located near Han River is a site where we need to harmoniously combine two conflicting values. The site should be a natural landscape that seamlessly blends with the surrounding natural elements, and it should also accommodate urban programs that are easy to maintain, manage, and control. To address these, we applied 4 strategies to the design of “Wonderful Land”. – 1. Create a place with thick natural boundaries 2. Reconstruct the programs throughout four seasons 3. Design the site geographically to create a natural connection with Han River. 4. Develop a planting plan that considers the temporal and spatial context. By integrating these strategies, we have created a world divided by nature, but where everything works and is possible. The swimming pool facility now offers not only a place to swim but also stunning natural scenery that seamlessly blends with the surrounding environment.

The Yongsan Parkway Project is a cultural park that is to be created by a redevelopment business operator and donated to the local government for approval of the Yongsan District 4 redevelopment project. This site serves as a linear park and gateway, connecting Yongsan Station and Yongsan Park to the east and west, as well as an interface that links adjacent residents, office workers, and arcade users to the north and south. To meet the inherent demand for such a multi-directional connection, the Yongsan Parkway seeks to accommodate various events, as well as usual activities in everyday urban life. This integration is intended to be achieved by introducing obliquely stacked stone variations in various landscape elements, resulting in a unique and harmonious space.

Maengbang Beach, once a thriving center for fishing and agriculture, has faced significant challenges in recent years. The development of thermal power plants has accelerated beach erosion, placing the livelihoods of local residents in jeopardy. To address this issue, the Maengbang Waterfront Park Master Plan proposes a solution that encourages nature to restore its coastline through the creation of artificial dunes and erosion-reducing facilities. The plan also aims to avoid the implementation of excessive facility-oriented plans, which could detract from the natural beauty of the beach and instead promote its waterfront and scenic views. The project’s overarching goal is to create new industries for local residents while improving the village’s infrastructure, making it more resilient and sustainable. This will also support the village’s connection to local industries and events.

The Incheon-Boulevard Overpass was originally built to connect the city and prioritize vehicular traffic. However, for the past 50 years, it has acted as a barrier to local development and interpersonal communication in the surrounding areas. In order to create greater urban changes, the overpass will be disassembled and a linear park will be built in its place. This park will need to adapt to the changing needs of the city over time. The Incheon Boulevard Park is an urban regeneration project that combines elements of locality, nature, and urban infrastructure. It will use three strategies to achieve this: 1. introducing green wind roads, 2. ensuring walking connectivity, and 3. placing program features along the six-lane road. This linear park will be a unique addition to the city, setting it apart from other linear parks that have existed previously.

A new life is budding on the long-neglected, weathered rocky terrain that bears the marks of sediment deposition over many years. There are three ways in which healing is taking place on this rugged and uneven natural landscape.

There was a time when one would open the newspaper only to see photos of dead fish in the Taehwagang River. At the time, the river was a body of foul and murky wastewater. Thanks to continued efforts over the last 20 years, Taehwagang River has transformed into the fresh river of life where salmon, otters, and a diversity of fish have returned. However, the story of this transformation has not been shared beyond the water itself. “Fish Eye View” is an artistic space that delivers the story of the fishes of the Taehwagang River through creative sculptures of the eight major fish species and the interpretive shelter that evokes their habitat. Taehwagang River is a ribbon of urban nature, where people and fish coexist.

An egg was found in a corner of a yard, which used to be an integral part of Korean life but has now disappeared. Yards were not only places for a frugal and tiring life but also for relaxation and contemplation. They were like gardens that resembled us the most. Among the various elements that make up a yard, Eggs on Madang is a theme garden that reminds us of our past through the medium of ‘eggs found there.’

This Project, “The Nostalgia,” began with the question, “Where is your garden?” Our gardens mingle with the everyday—common and humble, yet deeply personal and unique. By choosing and amplifying an “old washing place” from Korean vernacular domestic scenes, this project highlights hidden aspects of the garden in everyday city life. This stimulates nostalgia for a common feeling of “home” that transcends generations and ethnicity. Through this common, yet largely hidden, scene an overarching design idea was introduced to amplify our senses of simplicity, love, and delicacy. By twisting 42 identical canvases with a gradually changing rotational gradient, this project alternately reveals and conceals the space, creating interplay between collective memory and personal sentiment.