PROJECTS

STUDIO

DESCRIPTION DETAILS

Heatherwick Studio is transforming an artificial island on the Han River in the centre of Seoul into a new public park.

The project, called Soundscape, creates a trail of dramatic spaces on different levels that can host musical performances and artistic interventions in a biodiverse landscape. The design draws inspiration from Seoul’s mountainous terrain and the patterns created by soundwaves. It was selected following a year-long series of exhibitions, consultations, a public vote and a presentation to a design jury chaired by Thom Mayne.

In this hyper-digital age, we’ve had so many amazing innovations in the way people live but there has also been an increasing sense of loneliness and isolation. Our design idea is to make a hyper-physical place that reconnects Seoulites with nature, culture and, most importantly, with each other.

Stepping onto the island, visitors will move through a landscape which evolves as the tides and seasons change. At ground level, there will be an arts centre and a public beach. Rather than demolishing the existing artificial landscape, the design will strengthen the riverbanks with soft, naturalistic planting. The landscape will then rise to an events podium which connects to a dramatic 1.2km skywalk. This trail will be formed of a series of small, floating islets, held in the air, providing resting spaces with views across the island and the river back to Seoul.  

Upon first discovering a serene, restful island where the landscape focuses on native flora and fauna, visitors will then wander up from the water’s edge to experience drama and harmonies in the sky.

Soundscape is the studio’s first project in South Korea to go into construction.
Visitors should be able to enjoy the new island in 2027. 

Heatherwick Studio is transforming an artificial island on the Han River in the centre of Seoul into a new public park.

The project, called Soundscape, creates a trail of dramatic spaces on different levels that can host musical performances and artistic interventions in a biodiverse landscape. The design draws inspiration from Seoul’s mountainous terrain and the patterns created by soundwaves. It was selected following a year-long series of exhibitions, consultations, a public vote and a presentation to a design jury chaired by Thom Mayne.

In this hyper-digital age, we’ve had so many amazing innovations in the way people live but there has also been an increasing sense of loneliness and isolation. Our design idea is to make a hyper-physical place that reconnects Seoulites with nature, culture and, most importantly, with each other.

Stepping onto the island, visitors will move through a landscape which evolves as the tides and seasons change. At ground level, there will be an arts centre and a public beach. Rather than demolishing the existing artificial landscape, the design will strengthen the riverbanks with soft, naturalistic planting. The landscape will then rise to an events podium which connects to a dramatic 1.2km skywalk. This trail will be formed of a series of small, floating islets, held in the air, providing resting spaces with views across the island and the river back to Seoul.  

Upon first discovering a serene, restful island where the landscape focuses on native flora and fauna, visitors will then wander up from the water’s edge to experience drama and harmonies in the sky.

Soundscape is the studio’s first project in South Korea to go into construction. Visitors should be able to enjoy the new island in 2027. 

CLIENT

Seoul Metropolitan Government

LOCATION

Seoul, Korea

APPOINTMENT

2024

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Thomas Heatherwick

GROUP LEADER

Neil Hubbard

PROJECT LEADER

Pallavi Kumar (Competition Round 2 – Ongoing)

Cong Wang (Competition Round 1)

PROJECT MANAGER

Mary Suen (Competition Round 2 – Ongoing)

Consuelo Manna (Competition Round 1)

TECHNICAL DESIGN LEAD

Brandon Gassner (Competition Round 2 – Ongoing)

Uwe Frohmader (Competition Round 1)

STUDIO TEAM

Adriana Cabello Plasencia
Alfredo Chavez Romero
Alice Dousova
Ashley Tso
Blue Tuohy
Brandon Gassner
Chi Chung
Clara Bismuth
Cong Wang
Consuelo Manna
Elliott Bishop
Erich Breuer
Fabio Porcu
Freddie Lomas
Giulio Gabrielli
Hannah Francis
Hannah Parker
Harriet Gargrave
Joanna Sabak
Joseph Brennan
Ka Ching Chloe Tam
Kate Le Masurier
Kelvin Lam
Kong Hoang
Lily Thomas
Luke Plumbley
Marcus Hawk
Mary Suen
Matthew Robson
Matthew Taylor
Meera Yadave
Nabiha Naciri
Neal Tanna
Oliver Zhu
Olga Rienda Sevilla
Pallavi Kumar
Paul Brooke
Paul Chu
Peter Romvari
Philipp Nedomlel
Pinelopi Papadimitraki
Radu Axinte
Raga Gowrisankar
Rebecca Sheead
Silvia Rueda Cuellar
Simone Berardelli
Simone Tchonova
Skye Sun
Sungjae Lee
Thomas Heatherwick
Uwe Frohmader
Viet Anh Trieu
Winki Ho
Wiley Ng
Yedarm Lee
Yijia Li
Yuki Chen
Zhiting Jin

COLLABORATORS

Gansam (Local Joint Partner, Architecture)
CNP Dongyang (Structure)
Samoo MEP (Fire Safety)
Jungdo (Mechanical)
Samoo Electrical (Electrical)
Jinyoung Enc. (Civil)
Juwon (Vessel Design)
CA Landscape ( Landscape)
Alto Consultants (Water Resource)
Turner & Townsend ( Cost Control)

Arup (Competition Stage – Engineering, Façade, Venue Consultant)
Aecom (Competition Stage – Cost Consultant)
SUUM Projects (Competition Stage – Local Consultant)
Mir (Competition Stage – Visuals)
Devisual (Visuals and Animation)