The transformation of Nodeul Island in Seoul has reached a new milestone following a groundbreaking ceremony today, Tuesday 21 October.

Last year, Heatherwick Studio won the competition to reimagine the man-made, uninhabited island on the Han River into a new place for culture and recreation. Today citizens and officials came together for a ceremony which featured musical performances, augmented reality,
and opportunities to learn more about the design.

Called ‘Soundscape’, the winning design has been commissioned by Seoul Metropolitan Government. It aims to celebrate South Korean music and create a new topography for people to explore and enjoy.

At the ground level, an art centre and a public beach will echo the island’s recreational history. Naturalistic planting on the riverbank will rise to an events podium. There will also be visitor spaces including recording studios, small concert halls, a waterfront amphitheatre, a K-Pop experience centre, a music café, an anechoic chamber, and a karaoke bar.

The heart of the island will be a new elevated 1.25km urban trail, drawing inspiration from the patterns of soundwaves and Seoul’s surrounding mountainous landscape.

Composed of a series of small, floating islets that appear to hover in the air, the trail will loop in a figure-of-eight, offering restful areas and spectacular views across the city and the riverbank.

Thomas Heatherwick, founder of Heatherwick Studio, said the project aims to transform
an isolated island into a space for culture, nature, and community.  

“So often when people use the word culture they mean museums and galleries, but that only speaks to a fraction of the public. Instead, Nodeul Island will be one of the most public places that any citizen can enjoy, where sound is central to the whole experience – embedded in the landscape, in the installations, and in the programming. Soundscape will be somewhere you can breathe and feel alive. An invitation to listen, discover and connect with your fellow Seoulites.”

Neil Hubbard, group leader at the studio added: “Our aim has been to enhance a place that’s incredibly special to people in Seoul. We’ve been listening, understanding what people already love, and adding layers to the landscape. Stripping out the things that harm it – like the dominance of roads and cars – and amplifying all the things that make it special and inviting – the water’s edge, the sense of escape and the romance of the river.”

The project is scheduled to open in 2028 and construction will take place in phases,
allowing citizens continued access to parts of the island.

Thomas Heatherwick is also the General Director of the 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, which runs until 18 November 2025.

Credit: Devisual & NOD for Heatherwick Studio