Project Under Construction...
Sunghyun Park
International Idea Competition for Cheongna City Tower
Entry Work
Incheon, South Korea
Dec 2007 - Mar 2008
Collaboration with Daeho Lee, Sundong Kim,
Jongwoo Jeon, Sujin Park & Euna Kim
Participation in schematic design, diagram, drawing, & retouching
Critic : Prof. Leemjong Jang, Prof. Jungdae Park,
Architect Yongmin Seo &
Structural Engineer Byungsoon Park
The Paradox of the Tower
The tower of proposal reinterprets the methods of the preexisting towers: the central core and the top observation volume. Any new tower without the
reinterpretation of the two elements will only create obvious varieties of existing towers. Ironically, a whole new tower is born when the two essential
elements are removed. The design initiates from scattering the top observation volume to all heights of the tower. This makes changing the general form
from preexisting towers possible. Also, the central core is removed and three cores are created on the outer circle for resisting the perpendicular load.
This can make possible creating a void in the center. Through the two manipulation gestures, the proposed tower scatters the programs throughout the
tower and raises the effectiveness of the tower. And also, traveling through the elevator to the top does not only provide experience of movement, but
also of various programs. The Cheongna province which the tower will be placed is a financial hub area. The skin of the tower takes the financial information
and creates a visual metaphor of the financial status. The tower will become a guide post that will give Cheongna province intuitional information
of the real-time changing financial information. Finally, the tower consists only of the structural memebers. Utilizing the growing process of the parasite
tree, this makes the tree an organic form.
Semantic Change of Tower
Towers have been used by mankind since prehistoric times. Some of the earliest surviving examples are
the broch structures in northern Scotland, which are conical towerhouses. The Chinese used towers as
integrated elements of the Great Wall of China as early as about 200 BC. These and later examples from
Phoenian and Roman cultures emphasised the use of a tower in fortification and sentinel roles. The
obelisk of Egypt was erected as a monument tomb.
The advent of the Eiffel Tower in the nineteenth century was an expression of civilization’s technological
accomplishment. In the ideological controversy-filled early twentieth century, towers of ideology
such as Tatlin’s Tower appeared. The Space Needle, completed in 1962, became a prototype of towers
intending to observe skylines of the city. The highest tower of such style is the CN tower, completed in
1975. The CN Tower of Toronto, 553 meters high, is the best example of a landmark icon in the city.
The Oriental Pearl Tower, completed in 1995 has represented the thriving of China opening a new era
through social reform and opening. The Guangzhou TV Tower plan of 2007 has expressed the high
levels of architectural construction technology China has achieved since the past decade.
The tower of our proposal intends to become a prototype of a new style. It focuses on overcoming the
straight expressions of architectural technology. Observing the skylines of the city is possible enough
in high rise offices or houses. A controversy of the new significance of the tower for the mankind living
in high rise buildings is required.
From Rationality to Sensibility
To describe the organic form of the tower, many references of
sculpture were looked up. Among them, the works of Brent
Collins were very amusing. His works included aesthetically
describing the equations and phenomena of math and science.
The work utilizing the Scherk’s Minimal Surface had possibilities
of application.
Through researching for the subjects relating to the Scherk’s
Minimal Surface, we gained knowledge about the minimal surface.
Various efforts were made to translate the minimal surface
into a digital model with variables. Programs such as Minimal
Surface Generator, Mathematica, Math Plugin for Rhinoceros and
Sculpture Generator were used for modeling. The digital model
from mathematical equations were imported to Rhinoceros and
intuitionally revised so the overall shape would be neat.
Structural Component
The proposed tower has three vertical cores. To
enhance the stability of the whole tower, 3d mega
trusses are installed on the lower parts of the tower.
A shear wall is installed for the three cores to
function as one. To scatter the vertical and horizontal
load, a secondary member is built. To avoid
wind loads, the wind is let in through the tower.
The Tower as an Icon of the Economy
Using led stripes as the skin of the tower makes
possible casting images. The images described
can be variables from the stock market, foreign
currency market, or financial industries. The images
cast on the tower can be information for the
financial industrial workers of Cheongna.
2006 Samsung Raemian Design Fair
Special Prize & Most Popular Prize
Daegu, South Korea
Dec 2005 - Feb 2006
Collaboration with Hyejoon Park
Jury : Moongyu Choi & Hailim Suh
Interactive community
The origin of city begins with the growth of modern industry. A steep population increase in cities demands another types of housing and it provoked
large-scale collective housing.
Such a short history of mass housing in Korea allowed us to transplant collective housings developed in western countries. Unprecedented lifestyle is
provided to the public and new history of housing was begun.
For last 40 years, studies and researches toward the interior of apartments were continuously executed but relationship between units and interactions
with the environments are fairly ignored. In spite of many efforts and failures Korean apartments are criticized because of its monolithic and inhuman
qualities. Although each unit carries out its role as functional space but lack of communication in family members and with other neighbors is an unsolved
problem.
As the quality of life become more important issue in society, everyone isn’t satisfied with sole possession of own space any more. The space which divided
by the room and elevator hall causes discontinuation with the neighbors. And the site plan which definitely fragmented by the apartments eventually
prevents the interaction with the surroundings. Fences that encircle the building site and a retaining wall make a city a isolated island.
Serious consideration on indeliberately divided space by rooms in units, communication between each unit, and the surrounding area is mandatory. The
communication means far beyond the interaction between people but includes mutual understanding among human, nature, and technology. It should
also comprise conversation with the past, present, and future.
Housing 2.0
Strategic positioning
: architectural application as platform
User positioning
: You control your own plan
Core Competencies
: customization, not typicality
: possibility of participation
: cost-effective scalability
: element above the part of a fixed plan
: harnessing individual preference
The concept of housing 2.0 was borrowed from Web 2.0. Current design process physically realizes the client’s demands based upon the professional knowledge
of the architect. The process I proposed here is the Housing 2.0 compared to the existing process, Housing 1.0.
The main feature of the new design process, Housing 2.0, is that encourages the participation of the clients. The architect is not the center of the process
but only helps the clients dream come true. The clients make important decisions by themselves. Application that constitutes expert knowledge is provided
to the clients. The space suitable for the residents is materialized according to the client’s a few numbers of choices. This process makes the architecture
without architect possible in digital era.
This project is a conceptual approach to the Housing 2.0. Technical solutions for architectural realization are left future. And Housing 2.0 maximizes the
client’s participation on the design and embraces minimal architectural constraints simultaneously. Minimal constraints include architectural proposal
overall circulation, landscape, and the skin.
Geometry Generation
To achieve diversity of collective housing, the
geometry of the units should be very clear.
The efficiency of the units and environmental
issues would be considered while selecting
the geometry of the units.
Plan Research
Floor plans of the apartments sold by five
Korean major construction companies in
2004 are collected and analyzed the special
features. Number of programs for each area
range and area for each program is calculated.
Calculated area is translated into geometry’s
area. The table depicts areas for each program
in selected geometry.
Elements of Plan
The elements that is appropriate for each program is decided according
to the table. The elements on the right are basic form made from
the relationship between doors and windows. Many variations can be
created by altering the openings.
Element Combination
Many variations can be created by combining the previously designed
elements depend on the clients’ own lifestyle. Element
combinations is applied depend on the unit volume that the clients
purchased.
Circulation
Constitute the plan that reflects the lateral thinking of information society. By presenting various approach method from
each units, currently isolated in the apartments, to public spaces in the housing complexes altered into space with many
possibilities. Increased personal contacts enhance solidarity of the collective housing community.
Unit Aggregation
The building form responds to the surroundings just like an amoeba. After accumulating the units a void space is created which improves
lighting, ventilation, and interaction of community. Large void spaces serve as an element to help people to recognize the relative position.
The units that combined by the elements which divided into minimum looks like a three dimensional Tetris. Each unit multiplies as
it creates void spaces regarding its function.
Program Distribution
Existing apartment complex programs are distributed to the horizontal hierarchy. In
housing 2.0, residential parts are lifted and the lower spaces are filled with the program
which can be shared with the neighbors. Amenity facilities are on the upper roof.
Three Dimensional Landscpae
The ground is freed from its function by floating the residential mass. The vertical hallway is randomly distributed in order to create the
non-hierarchical space. Plane that connected from surrounding residential area makes border-less housing complex lead to natural flow of
residents. Level of ground preserve existing terrain and plating patterns follows the geometrical rule. Planting executed according to the
plant’s blooming period and height of the vegetation. It makes the landscape space under the mass three dimensional space.
Integration of the corridor and the balcony
The core is dismentled by seperating the stairway and the elevator. But they are connected
with the corridor. This disposition causes new relationship between the corridor
and the balcony. Each residence’s balcony is freed from fire disaster by installing the hallway
that faces the corridor in the end. Void space for lighting and ventilation become a
interactive community space for the dwellers. It improves the accessibility of neighboring
residents to the building compared to the existing ones.
Forest in Urban Area
Multiplied mass in response with the client’s choices might cause
excessiveness of façade and would not match to the urban context.
The new attempt to correcting it is required to give unity to the façade.
Floating mass is wrapped with wire mesh. The ivy grows and crawls
the mesh. Tilted slender columns which support the mass resembles
the trunks of tree. The wire mesh covered with the ivy looks like
branches. It forms the façade similar to the forest in the city.
2006 Architectural Structure Competition
Excellent Prize
Seoul, South Korea
Mar 2006 - Jun 2006
Assited by Hyejoon Park & Duckshin Kang
Studio Critic : Prof. Leemjong Jang
Odd Paysage
‘Depaysement’ means ‘change of scenery or surroundings; disorientation’. Surrealists found beauty
from unexpectedness, preposterousness, eccentricity, and senselessness. Unaccountable beauty which
surrealists pursue is the ‘poetic beauty’. ‘Depaysement’ is also psychological and visual effects that
gives a shock to the spectator.
This project asks a rough question that whether it is possible to design a botanic garden with the butterflies
flying between floating trees in the sky. The surroundings can be changed onsiderably by
answering this wild question for the first time.
Shattered Dream of the Millennium
In 1999, the government began the Millennium Gate competition in part of the millennium project. The Korea government selected OPUS’s design to a competition
winner in 2000. The project site is located on the entrance of Seoul by the road from
Incheon International Airport. Therefore the government expected the competition
winning design to play a important role as a landmark which symbolizes the city of
Seoul. OPUS’s plan was very clear, building giant circle 200 meter in diameter. However,
some participants rebuked OPUS’s design for copying existing building. Also,
financial and technical difficulties caused while realizing the initial design eventually
delayed the project. Overall skepticism toward the Millennium Gate was expressed by
the public and the project had to be interrupted. Millennium Gate construction was
actually included in the World Cup Park project. But the project couldn’t be finished
since the Millennium Gate plan was cancelled.
World Cup Main Stadium, Sky Park, and Sunset Park are situated on the surrounding
area. It is also very close to Han River. And World Cup Park is usually crowded because
of shopping malls and multiplex theaters in the World Cup Stadium.
Typology of Botanic Garden
Botanic garden existed for a very long time since
the Roman Empire. Generally, it is a variation of
green house. Modern green house first appeared
during the Industrial Revolution due to mass production
of wrought iron. In 1851, Joseph Paxton
built Crystal Palace which is a new kind of green
house using materials such as steel and glass. This
type becomes a model for 20the century green
house.
Green house was transformed into a new type in
the 21st century. Nicholas Grimshaw introduced a
new greenhouse in Eden Project which is totally
different from the past by installing membrane
instead of glass and applying the spherical shape
structure.
The Dutch pavilion for World Expo 2000 in Hanover
designed by MVRDV is built in searching the
way to integrate the technology and the nature. It
showed another possibility for vertical expansion
through the staking of plates.
Depaysement attempts to float the building rather
than staking it. And to realize the design a new
structure is researched.
There are two ways for a botanic garden to arouse
its occupant a feeling of eccentricity, one is emphasizing
building mass and the other is to let the
trees float in the air. The latter is chosen to correspond
with the concept ‘depaysement’. In order
words, the mass is unrecognized and the trees are
dramatically wafting.
Disposition of Butterflies
Plants for honey and laying eggs are different depend on the variety of butterflies. Butterflies inhabit
around the plants that hold the honey they prefer. Appropriate temperatures for nhabitation of the flowers
for feed are diverse with regard to the vegetation. Various kinds of butterflies with respect to temperature
result from different climate and change of botanical species.
Existing botanical gardens mostly have horizontal structure. Glass wall inside the garden divides the space
to control the temperature differently. This method makes each species of buttterflies possible to inhabit
in each divided spaces.
Convection occurs in accordance with the height of green house spaces which placed vertically. A homogeneously
large space has the temperature difference according to the height. The large space guarantees
the butterflies to fly liberally. The plants and the butterflies spontaneously occupy the vertically separated
spaces according to the temperature difference.
Geometry of Structure
The structure itself implies the design element of
the architecture. The structure and the plant box
seen through façade are determined by geometry
rule. Truss structure to support vertical loads,
planting, and honeycomb structure to improve
lighting are merged into a module.
Ventilation Tube
To decrease immense wind load effect to slender
building, a ventilation tube that penetrating the
structure is installed. Bernoulli Effect is induced
while the winds passing the tube by reducing
cross section area of the ventilation tube. Natural
ventilation system is equipped without mechanical
facilities.
Equipment System
All equipments are set up inside the structural steel
structure to make the green house a column-less
space. Plant Box is tilted for better drainage. Composite
materials are employed in place of metal
plate to prevent corrosion caused by water. Three
rails and cranes are hanged on the roof to plant
trees in Floating Plant Box. In that way trees can be
moved freely in the large column-less space.
The 3rd Docomomo Korea Competition
Excellent Prize
Seoul, South Korea
Mar 2006 - Jun 2006
Assisted by Joonhyung Lee & Jongwoo Jeon
Jury : Guyon Chung
Jung-Up KIm’s Design Works
Kim, Jung-Up’s architectural activity can be divided into three periods. During the year 1956 to 1968, he
returns from Le Corbusier’s office in Paris and opens his own office in Seoul. The vocabulary of modern
architecture which is learned from Le Corbusier was carefully interpreted to his own words. During this
period, he shows the design which consists of free curves and multiplying circles with acute angle that
based on modular type structural system. Fulfillment of Le Corbusier’s Five Points of New Architecture
(Les 5 Points d’une architecture nouvelle) in Main Building of Pusan University (1958) on the base of
modular type leads to the quickening of the Korean modern architecture. Since the designing of Jeju
National University Main Building in 1964, he develops his architectural vocabulary by adopting free
plan and ramps. Free curved lines instead of the modular method was decisively applied to Dr. Seo’s
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in 1966. It was the culmination of his architecture works in search for
his originality.
Frozen Utopia
‘Cryonics’ is competition entry work hosted by Docomomo Korea in memory of Korean architect Kim,
Jung-Up and to conserve his work, Dr. Seo’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic. Kim, Jung-Up’s most
architectural works had conflicts with construction techniques at that time. Consequently, his designs
could not be realized in the way his original concept pursued. Perhaps that’s why he left so many
precise models of buildings that he designed. Did he think that his utopian ideas would eventually be
come true in the future through the progresses of building technology by leaving his models? Just like
a person revived from cryogenic suspension.
The Korean Wave and Dongdaemoon
The hardships that the architect Kim, Jung-Up had to deal with in 1966 are still under way. Dr. Seo’s
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic building, represented in multiplied circles, evolved responding to the
ever-changing context. Dongdaemun area where the building is located was the main eastern entrance
to its capital during Joseon Dynasty. Historicity of Dongdaemun area is easily found by witnessing
Kwangheemun and traces of Seoul City Wall. After mid 90s area was developed to the most populated
commercial district in Seoul. And the Korean Wave attracts more and more foreign tourists and the
buyers to the area.
Multiplying Circles
The Clinic’s the most important feature is the floor plan which made of propagating circles. His design method is conducted in the
process of 3 dimensional staking of the floor plan. While conserving the building, the restoration of floor plans should be the priority.
Formation of façade and the volume results from generating the floor plan. Actually, restoration of the original form is the key to this
project. Considering the fact that façade is subject to floor plan, influence of the plan renovation must be cautiously examined. The
importance of building’s façade in urban context and Kim, Jung-Up’s outstanding creativity in Dr. Seo’s Obstetrics and Gynecology
Clinic building should be kept in mind while reservation of current building condition is executed. Although restored plan’s program
reflects the surrounding area, the function of initial plan or similar program is adaptively reused under researched physical property.
The new building which interlocks with alteration of program contrasts to the old clinic but alike in interior.
The Background
Old building’s location is on the outskirts of Seoul. Unique form of
building has potentials to become a monument. Proposed building
is the background for Kim, Jung-Up’s masterpiece.
Black exposed concrete is selected for exterior material of newly
planned building. Gray curtain wall’s light and semi-transparent
glass property neutralizes rough and massive volume.
4 July 1980
Seoul, South Korea
Education
- University of Pennsylvania, PennDesign, Master of Architecture, Philadelphia, U.S.A, 2011
- Yonsei University, Department of Architecture, Bachelor of Science, Seoul, South Korea, 2007
- Seoul High School, Seoul, South Korea, 1999
Military Service
-Republic of Korea Air Force, 8987-1 Unit, May. 2001 - Nov. 2003
Work Experience
- Ga. A Architects Office, Dec. 2006 - Jan. 2007
International Master Plan Competition for Public Administration Town, Honorable Mention
part-time : diagram, digital modeling & retouching
- AANDD, Aug. 2006 - Oct. 2006
Gangdong Culture Complex Competition, 2nd prize
internship : schematic design, drawing, diagram & retouching
- josungyong architect office, Jun. 2006 - Aug. 2006
International Master Plan Competition for the First Town, 3rd prize
internship : design developing, diagram, drawing, physical modeling & retouching
- UBAC
Gyumjae Jungsun Museum Competition, entry work
part-time : design developing, physical modeling, diagram & retouching
- Inter:kerd, Dec. 2005 - Mar. 2006
Jeonkok Prehistory Museum International Competition, entry work
part-time : schematic design, diagram & panel editing
- TED Group, Sep. 2005
Mok 3-Dong Public Administrative Office Competition, entry work
part-time : schematic design, drawing, diagram & panel editing
- johsungyong architect office, Jul. 2004 - Feb. 2005
Collectivity of Landscape - exhibition of johsungyong architect office
internship : planning, modeling & panel editing
Honors & Awards
- Housing 2.0, The 3rd Samsung Raemian Design Fair, Dec. 2005 - Feb. 2006
special prize & most popular prize, collaboration with Hyejoon Park
-Wild Wild East, The 22th Space International Student Competition, Jul. 2004 - Sep. 2004
honorable mention, collaboration with Kyungha Lim & Jinyoung Park
- Depaysment, The 2nd Architectural Structure Competition, Mar. 2006 - Aug. 2006
excellent prize, assisted by Hyejoon Park & Duckshin Kang
- Cryonics, The 3rd Docomomo Korea Competition, May. 2006 - Jun. 2006
honorable mention, assisted by Joonhyung Lee & Jongwoo Jeon
Related Experience
- Seoul School of Architecture (SA school) Summer Workshop, Jul. 2004 - Aug. 2004
- Freeform Digital Design Workshop, Dec. 2004 - Feb. 2005
Membership
- Member of "Korean Institute of Architects", Apr. 2007 - Present
- Founder of Architectural Design Research Unit "question_n", Jun. 2006
- Member of "Samsung Raemian Design Membership", Jul. 2006 - Mar. 2007
Contact
Sansom Place East 2006
3600 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA, 19104
U.S.A
Tel) 443-716-6799
E-Mail) iamsunghyun@gmail.com
Copyright © Sunghyun Park.
All rights reserved.