KILD
Yangjaegogae Eco Bridge. Category: landscape architecture
Design: 2017
Address: Seoul, South Korea
Architects: Ivane Ksnelashvili, Petras Išora, Ona Lozuraitytė, Dominykas Daunys
Four architects consolidated two studios (Isora+Lozuraityte Studio for Architecture (AIL) and Ivane Ksnelashvili studio) and after creating a platform for projects with KILD they won the Yangjaegogae Eco Bridge Design Competition, which is in the realisation stage at this time. Ivane Ksnelashvili and Dominykas Daunys have gained experience at international architecture firms in London, Germany and Lithuania. After an active period in Lithuania, New York, London and Belgium, Ona Lozuraitytė and Petras Išora established AIL which is known not only for its creative architectural ideas, but also for exhibition curation, art installations and a strong focus on landscape architecture. The collective experience of the members of KILD participating in local and international architecture competitions and their long-lasting focus on the natural environment provided an ideal synthesis for the group to participate in and win first prize in the Yangjaegogae Eco Bridge Design Competition.
The architectural aspect of the bridge is plastic-like, its wide edges envelop the visitor and extend the experience of walking next to a mountain slope. Facing south the edge of the bridge gently curves toward the centre of the city and right in the middle of the bridge a panoramic view of Seoul unfolds. Looking both from the outside and inside, one’s glance moves sensitively along the surfaces that reveal painterly verdant perspectives. The bridge is composed of rhythmic segments that the architects chose in order to facilitate a dialogue with traditional Korean architecture. The detailed rendering for the competition project offers a landscaping and irrigation system, protective barriers along the edges and an original constructive scheme in which the principles of both arch and suspension bridges combine.
The idea proposed by the winners goes beyond the boundaries of a bridge as an infrastructure object. With this project, the designers seek to recreate the connection that was broken at some time in the past between ecosystems, to re-connect the landscape that has been bisected by a transport artery and to allow plants and wildlife to migrate freely from one side to the other. The northern part of the bridge, meant for animals, reptiles and plants, is angled to face the sunlight from the south, while on other level pedestrians can see but not access the slope, meant only for animals. The landscape design combines the characteristics of a linear park and a traditional Korean garden. At the same time, the structure functions as a migratory corridor for wildlife and as a pedestrian bridge so that while humans are part of the landscape, they are not the sole players here.