Namhangang 남한

It is time I turned my attention to the city of Seoul where I will carry out research for the next ten weeks. I will continue to add to the 'Projects' page on the side menu my developing direction for the year. The post entries will continue to be an ad-hoc collection of ideas and thoughts with some coherence coming later in time. 


The Han River (Namhangang 남한) fourth largest in Korea is a politically charged entity that connects the North to the South. It is a vast space that seperates Seoul in two. Nearing an average of 900m in width at the city centre. Its charactor is such that the ratio between max and min amounts of flow (river regime) is extremely high resulting in a consistant water level with drastic tides changing the rivers state. I would like to use The River Thames as a comparison on a number of levels. Firstly the river regime for the Han is 1:390 and for the Thames is 1:8 a clear difference in the flow ratio. In London this can be seen with the vast change in water level and beachy outcrops of the river bed revealed at low tide. Secondly the Han River is no longer used actively for navigation, this lack of use is a symbol of the political tensions between the North and South. This is due to the estuary's location on the border with the North, thus the fear of attack via the water way creates a landscape where civilians are barred from entering. This is a sad situation and I look forward to seeing exactly how the river is present in the psyche of Seoul's' citizens. 

Seoul fears the river for its connection to the North, I would like to see whether this vulnerability changes the way the water is used at the urban edge condition. The River Han is a feared piece of territory, in 1986 there was 'water panic' where South Korea feared that the North would attack Seoul by releasing a flood from a North Korean up-stream Dam. 


The kilometre wide entity allows the metropolis to breathe. A quick study looking at river infrastructure and activity for both rivers reveals the obvious potential the river Han has. It could play a major role and provide so much in Seoul's civic life. The mapping exercise below looks at an activity comparison with the Thames, the black elements illustrate river based activity or infrastructure. An on going question that I would like to tackle is how a place can strengthen its relationship with key contextual entities? such as rivers and oceans. London here acts as a good example with its leisure, flood defenses, and industries.

A Weapon Against Geometry

'Liquid counteracts gravity's earthbound hegemony and provides a level of freedom for bodies used to feeling heavy and depleted at the end of the day... Imagine the luxury of swimming to work- and a way of mediating the harsh tones of the cityscape' 

Gregory Williams

Susa Templin explores the question of how to make urban living more livable. Templin's primary weapon against geometry is water. Searching the metropolis of Manhattan, she looks for open-air swimming pools that offer a measure of hope. She refers to them as 'negative architecture'.  Through her explorations she brings alive ideas of how the urban can re-engage with and help to temper the anarchic environment with the soothing presence of water.

Susa Templin, 3 Feet 6 Inches Deep 

A Tidal Story

The tide erodes our infrastructures, a story of decay and change.

West Pier, Brighton 2009.

Tidal Rhythms

The gravitational forces exerted by our Moon, Sun and the rotation of the Earth create a constant changing landscape where water meets rock. The mapping of tidal movements can take many interesting forms. Our infrastructures and environments are constantly marked by this celestial condition. From high to low tide our thresholds are eroded, destroyed, flooded, scattered with debris and marked with the stories of our physical world. The passing of time is seen as the water oscillates on the coasts and banks of our habitats. Our architectures have the ability to have ever changing dialogues with the environment and with our universe.

NASA/GSFC - M2 Tidal constituent, Amplitude is indicated by colour. Mapping of global tidal movements.

Flooded London Squint/Opera2

Visions of a metropolis overwhelmed with water. Squint/Opera beautifully explore the result on the urban environment and famous architectural landmarks of London with increased flooding. They manage to discover through their drawings a re-engagement with natural systems and wildlife. Our current dislocation with natural systems could culminate with a new urban relationship or juxtaposition with the wild and untempered.

http://www.dezeen.com/2008/06/22/flooded-london-by-squintopera-2/

Walking My Dog

Fascinated by what washes up by the tides, I decided to collect every piece of plastic that I came across on a half hour walk along the beach with my dog. The colourful collection of everyday and bizarre items illustrates the unseen issue of plastic pollution. You have to look hard to discover the bottle tops and small bits and pieces as they nestle in between the pebbles out of sight. Beach-combing is a way of studying the natural and the artificial gems that the sea deposits on the beach and intertidal zone, usually the comber is searching for things of value, interest or utility. For me a chance to make sense of our relationship with our ocean.

Message In the Waves

This is a powerful BBC documentary that highlights the issue of the deterioration of our oceans. Plastics are a huge issue and sea life is being choked by the shear volume of waste that is discarded every year into our oceans. Plastic is degraded by the sun into small particles similar in size to plankton, which sea life ecosystems are mistaking for food causing devastating affects.

An Issue of Dislocation

‘As pollution, flooding, over fishing and new developments strains our relationship with water, we must ensure in urban settings, that we educate and provide experiences that highlight water as a crucial ingredient ensuring our well being. It is therefore important to promote positive relationships with the compound that sustains our life; it benefits us all and can liberate, purify, energise, recuperate, and relax us. It is paramount for communities to support sustainable industries that explore the benefits of water as a crucial part of the genius loci of their individual context'.

London Victoria to Bognor Regis direct train 

A research point of departure for the year. My personal interest in water relationships stems from my time growing up by the coast in a small Victorian seaside town called Bognor Regis, which is situated on the south coast of England. For many years I have returned from large cities back to my home town and have witnessed the urban environment stagnating economically and socially. With many places nearby attracting the majority of investment, namely Chichester and Littlehampton. It is a place with a great asset the sea! This relationship between the people and the sea is one that has always had its complications and it is one that will continue to fascinate with the continued need for sea defense and our desire to spend time on these powerful thresholds for pleasure. The recent credit crunch has meant that the stay-cation is back in favor for holidaying Brits. People escape the metropolis of London and jump on the Southern direct train to their final ill sounding destination of Butlin's in Bognor every year. 


Peak Oil, climate change and other developmental pressures are causing communities to come together to help towns and urban areas cope with these environmental transitions. I hope to explore the idea of sustainable transitions as a way of positively engaging people with the natural systems that we have become dislocated from. Water as rivers, canals and oceans are key to our well being as a species and is crucial for the sustainable regeneration of many small coastal or river conurbations.

A Powerful Threshold

Aerial view of Bognor Regis, with the Butlins Holiday camp just off centre. Image approx 10km across with the green belt highlighted beneath at a smaller scale. The image shows the towns relationship and threshold with the water body of the English Channel.