Design Architect:
H Architecture P.C.
Associate Architect:
Haeahn Architecture
Client:
Korea Sports Promotion Foundation
It has been one of the most prominent cultural performance venues of Korea and represents the historical legacy of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, a significant event in modern Korean history. Furthermore, due to its accessibility within one of the largest public parks in Seoul it is able to provide a memorable everyday experience to a large number of visitors.
The arena is being renovated with the goal of establishing a new programmatic identity while preserving the historical and symbolic significance of the existing structure and façade. The scope of construction was minimized by reusing a majority of the existing structure. The circular gallery surrounding the outer edge of the building was expanded to accommodate a wider range of retail and event-related programs, and more importantly prepare the facility for any future expansions. Much of the renovation was focused on the roof structure which was replaced with a dynamic 3D truss system inspired by the form of a tornado, symbolizing the venue’s central role in the recent surge of global popularity of Korean pop culture.
The newly designed arena is a dynamic intersection between the venue’s legacy as not only one of Korea’s most important sports arenas but also as the premiere performance venue for showcasing the ever-evolving popularity of Korean culture around the world. What makes this fusion even more meaningful is that it is located within one of the largest man-made public parks in Korea. The renovation is an important opportunity to preserve a cultural landmark and also establish a new typology of hyper-public cultural performance facility which fulfills the needs of its various users and accommodates a vast range of concerts and other cultural events.
