Syracuse School of Architecture students win grand prize at the 2022 Busan International Architecture Design Workshop

A team of fifth-year students out of Syracuse University’s School of Architecture has been unveiled as the recipients of the grand prize at the 2022 Busan International Architecture Design Workshop (BIADW). They were recognized for their project "Connective Corridor," which lays out a waterfront revitalization and ferry system for Busan’s Busanwondong railway station on the city’s Donghae Line. 

Since its inception in 2003, the BIADW has been held annually to highlight the research and ideas of architecture students across the world. It is hosted by the Busan Architecture Festival (BAF), which since 2001 has organized international design competitions, academic conferences and lectures, workshops, exhibitions, events, and research service projects in order to discover ways to develop the architecture and environment of Busan. 

Participants in this year’s BIADW were tasked with responding to the theme, "Megacity: Gate Networking." Teams consisting of one guiding professor and three students were challenged to create a development plan for Busan’s railway network and its stations near the East Sea, which is seen as one of the most important factors in determining the success of the "Busan Ulsan Gyeongnam (Buul-gyeong) mega-city."

A total of 15 tutors and 45 students from both Korean and overseas universities participated in the workshop, which took place over 17 days. The Syracuse team was guided by Daekwon Park, an undergraduate chair and assistant professor at the School of Architecture. The participating students included Nicholas Chung ’23 (B.Arch.), Chenhao Luo ’23 (B.Arch.), and Zhi Zheng ’23 (B.Arch.). 

"Although the workshop was only 17 days, my students were able to formulate a thoughtful proposal based on rigorous site analysis and topic interpretation," shared Park in a statement. "Their research on mobility systems (train, highway, and ferry systems), waterfront development, and neighborhood needs are compelling, and the strategy to use the river floodplain as a catalyst for regenerating the neighborhood is intriguing."

Given Busanwondong station's cantilevered position above the Suyeong River, the team saw an opportunity to use the river as a new mobility option by introducing a ferry system that would stop at various commercial sites and transit ports. They also saw a need for civic, cultural, and recreational programs at the site, so they proposed activating the riverbanks. This plan includes extending the existing coastal landscaping upstream from the bay, creating a resilient green corridor that connects to the surrounding urban landscape, repaving streets, and activating urban voids that will serve as third spaces for the community. 

The expressways along the river and station are reimagined as "porous membranes" that serve as spaces for people to come together. This waterfront transformation is envisioned as the catalyst for the creation of complementary design proposals that would form a series of diverse networks for the area. 

"We hope our design can belong as part of a larger conversation of how the urban environment should be a dynamic reflection of its people and how it should adapt to indigenous residents’ needs," explained the team.

The winning submission, along with other work produced during the 2022 BIADW competition, will be showcased during the Busan Architecture Festival in October. 

A video of the "Connective Corridor" plan can be viewed here.