MVRDV, a Dutch Architectural company are at it again as they reveal their latest masterpiece, the transformation of an abandoned highway in Seoul into a plant village in the shape of a 983-meter-long elevated Skygarden. The project is an attempt to add much-needed greenery to the dull gray concrete structures and provides the citizens of Seoul a get away as they can walk through the 24,000 indigenous trees and shrubs.
MVRDV has named the design Seoullo 7017 Korea, means “Seoul Street,” and has revamped the 1970s-era highway into a green space for the people while providing a bridge for the pedestrians. The “7017” in the name is a combination of 1970 and 2017, the years the highway was built, and now the year it being renovated.
This massive overhead pedestrian bridge is more than just a garden as it is embellished with a host of recreational activities such as tea houses, shops, galleries, a theater, and restaurants. Even the on and off-ramps are anything but conventional as they are converted into a combination of stairs, elevators, and ramps.
“Our design offers a living dictionary of plants which are part of the natural heritage of South Korea and now, existing in the city center,” said Winy Maas of MVRDV. “The idea here is to connect city dwellers with nature, while at the same time also offering the opportunity of experiencing these amazing views to the Historical Seoul Station and Namdaemun Gate.”
The plants on the Skygarden are arranged according to their different families, which are then grouped by the Korean alphabets. This arrangement allows a very aesthetically pleasing distribution of the Skygarden into groups of fragrance and color, appealing to a host of sensibilities of the visitors. The Skygarden is adorned with blue light in the night, which is healthier for the plants along with adding another a serene aura.
Images via Ossip van Duivenbode
