Final Plan

Short Section Through Alleyway 골목을 통해 짧은 섹션

Emulsifying Path 경로

Boundaries are blurred between the formal orthogonal structure of the APT complex and the low rise housing to the north by introducing a path that weaves its way through the apartment blocks and underground car-park. The proposal sets out a connecting strategy by utlising contrasting character, form and material, blending the dislocated communities and landscapes. The path becomes a street with community activities. As part of this detail study the path divides and allows a cinema to be located at this juncture. The activity becomes an emulsifying intervention helping to forge links between the residents in the area.

Flowing Streets 거리의 창조

Area of detail study

Li, Dynamic Form in Nature 리, 자연의 동적 양식

An earlier post titled 'Movement in x,y, and z' the drawings illustrated the informal layout of Seoul's streets, stairs and paths in its low rise areas. This has led me to look at forms that occur in nature. A book in the wooden series called 'Li, Dynamic Form in Nature' by David Wade, has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Li a Chinese notion of 'pattern' and 'principle' is used describe universal formations. Many of the drawings show naturally occurring networks and patterns in flora and fauna. Some of these forms resemble the street layouts studied, this has led me to reassess the plan layout and flow of the promenade. The inspiring maps of the complexity of our natural world are shown in this post. I'm interested in how informal natural patterns can contrast the formal layout of the complex. Looking at microscopic forms allows scale changes to be envisioned and contemplated. Arteries and branches become streets and paths. They all have a clear function, as a movement supporting structure. The promenade is the structure to allow flow and movement through the barriers and boundaries highlighted.

Above is a drawing from that looks at aggregation the characteristic of liquid particulates clustering on the surface.

According  to the early Greek philospher Empedocoles all the change and movement in the universe, including all the processes of creation and destruction, stem ultimately from two great principles of attraction and repulsion.1

Retifrom, net like formations, found in the insect world as optimal forms that can act as camouflage.

Patterns left by dried out paints and gels. The formations resemble the earths tectonic structure and street layouts.

The removal of water by evaporation causes materials to shrink and crack. Above hairline cracks on the glaze used on pottery.

Rivas, water drainage, or 'liquid channeling complexes', circulatory systems of animals and plants. 

Rivers shape the landscape and the landscape contains the river.

Li are essentially dynamic formations, and as such can give the impression of a frozen moment, of a process caught at a particular instant of time, or, in a more abstract sense, of the principle of energy engaging with that form. 

Quotes from Li, David Wade, Wooden Books.

Promenade in Section 섹션에서 프롬나드

Scene_1 'A Little Door'

Movement in X,Y and Z, a path...a promenade...

The maps below are quick studies into the character of the streets and paths that makeup the traditional low rise housing areas of Seoul. As a set they illustrate the informality and topography of these areas. It becomes clear when studying these layouts that the landscape and contours dictate. 

These drawings led me to explore the notion of a connecting path or promenade that follows and utilises the character of the landscape. The massive construction of the APT's create a terraced context with underground parking spaces and large retaining walls. As I have stated before these are my sites to test my strategy. I will upload images of the site in due course. I decided to draw the path in space and record the movement in three dimensions. This also led me to think about how the APT landscape can be used and experienced. The perspective view starts at 30m above the river on the footbridge on the road and falls through the complex, piercing apartment blocks on the way.

Movement in X,Y and Z have been represented in the sections and a plan. Little doors have been placed along the path that represent different thresholds. Yellow doors are where there is a transition from outside to inside. Grey doors, inside to outside and Black outside to underground.