http : / / www . archdaily . com / 793134 / mmk - plus - and - taehyung - park - transform - abandoned - island - in - seoul - into - new - cultural - hub ? ad _ content = 793134 & ad _ medium = widget & ad _ name = editors - choiceMMK + & Taehyung Park Transform Abandoned Island in Seoul Into New Cultural Hub hin the sprawling metropolis of Seoul lies an island " forgotten by time . " Sitting beneath the Hangang Bridge on the River Han , the floating lot is now nothing but a relic of a bygone era . Formerly a popular man - made beach and recreational area , the past forty years have seen the site erased from the collective consciousness of the city . To breathe new life into the island , the Nodeul Island Dream competition was opened , and Seoul - based MMK + and Taehyung Park ' s proposal ' Reconfigured Ground ' took first prize . The proposal looks at the evolution of the island from constructed paradise to overgrown void . Throughout this evolution , an ecosystem has developed and gradual formal changes have taken place . The remote character of the island - currently accentuated by its abandonment - is to be transformed into a positive condition , as it becomes a cultural haven within the bustling city . The architects ' design aims to " restore the wild nature of the island while re - programming its natural features as a cultural venue , " once again making it a destination point for inhabitants of the city . + 16 Save this picture ! Courtesy of MMK + The project proposes a reconfiguration of the ground levels of the site , with a distinct upper and lower level hosting diverse public programs . The ground plane itself has been reconfigured to soften the jarring height difference between the island and the bridge which runs overhead . Two distinct circulatory loops - the upper and lower - form the basis for the distribution of new programs . Save this picture ! Courtesy of MMK + Though linked by open plazas and visual connectivity , the upper and lower level host distinctly separate programs . The upper loop is a smaller radius and connects the eco - learning center , Han River observatory , and the Nodeul Forest . In contrast , the larger lower loop wraps the whole island with a promenade , urban beach , bike center , and observation deck . The upper - level hosts open public space , intended for temporary installations and gathering points . In contrast , the lower level is designed to accommodate start - up offices , shops , restaurants , plazas , market street , and a 500 - person performance hall . Traditional Korean village settings ( referred to as Maeuls ) evolve here : where a small community of different programs and user groups coexist in harmony . Save this picture ! Courtesy of MMK + MMK + said in a press release : Nodeul Maeul ’ s new structural system will be composed of a 10 m x 10 m modular precast concrete grid , integrated with a pre - installed flexible MEP system . The expandability of the system allows for a ” participatory design ” , where the architect provides the framework , and the spaces are defined by a response to the users ’ evolving needs . This dynamic , community - driven , typology brings unique opportunities for users and visitors , creating a place filled with historical values and limitless potential . Save this picture ! Courtesy of MMK + The existing island forest is augmented by a new planting strategy , designed to breathe new life into the established ecosystem . MMK + and Taehyung Park propose a four staged approach comprised of ; the preservation and removal of decaying plants , seeding and nurturing new plant - life , adding programmatic planting , and curating edge - defining planting . Diverse outdoor landscape programs are interlaced into the circulatory loops , enabling users to move through different natural and built conditions as move across the island . Save this picture ! Courtesy of MMK + For more information , check out the competition website , including the other prize - winning proposals . ArchitectsStudio MMKLocationSeoul , South KoreaDesign TeamPilsoo Maing , Jihoon Kim , Donghwan Moon CollaboratorsTaehyung ParkProject Year 2016 PhotographsCourtesy of MMK + News via MMK +. Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK + Courtesy of MMK +