Heatherwick Studio wins artificial island redesign competition in Seoul

CC Chiang ·  May 30, 24 1:41 PM

Haha they've launched a new product - the petalled islands. Add that to the lantern window, flower balcony, trees on a pedestal and curvy steppes product lineup.

This stuff sells - local governments and developers love 'em, especially in Asia. It's the architectural equivalent of Kaws sculptures - everyone wants one.

One thing I'm curious about is Heatherwick's comparative lack of work in the Middle East. All the hottest architects and artists are busy fighting for work in the region but Heatherwick has been curiously absent. I wonder if its a business decision or if the local market doesn't fancy their offering.

sameolddoctor ·  May 30, 24 5:11 PM

Bruh.....

Regarding the Middle East, didnt Heatherwick design the park for Abu Dhabi (the one with the cracks)? I'm pretty sure Heatherwick will build something epic there for a bajillion dollars

CC Chiang ·  May 30, 24 6:22 PM

Yeah it's weird he's not as active in those markets. Maybe he doesn't want to associated with all the Saudi projects, for instance. Or maybe it doesn't fit local sensibilities?

Gary Garvin ·  May 30, 24 9:16 PM

Not only does Heatherwick think most architecture today is boring, he finds nature boring. It needs to be given a Heatherwick lift and twist.

In this hyper-digital age, we’ve had so many amazing innovations in the way people live, but there has also been an increasing sense of loneliness and isolation. We want to make a hyper-physical place that reconnects Seoulites with nature, culture and, most importantly, with each other.

If I wanted to write a really bad parody of his thought/PR, this is what I would say. But the island is, by his own admission, a hyper place. His first sentence suggests the hyper-digital is the cause of alienation. He is only adding to it with more hype that won't bring us any closer to anything. This is amusement park architecture that brings crowds but doesn't do anything meaningful for them or the landscape or the culture, rather degrades them and turns people into a mob. It is schlock, the ethos of Coney Island, which can be quite popular. What the hell. It's fun.

And I'm guessing it will bring crowds, at least initially, so much so that whatever it does have to offer will get lost in the noise. If the novelty wears off, and it will, Seoul will be left with a funky monster they'll have to one day demolish.

Lost, the chance to create a meaningful spot to highlight and preserve nature and culture for years to come.

What would Heatherwick have done in place of the St. Louis Arch?

sameolddoctor ·  May 30, 24 9:59 PM

This was actually kinda cool

Aykut Imer ·  May 31, 24 1:02 PM

Problem with this concept is that it becomes a glorified promenade with planters. Or a planter one can loop around. Very little spacemaking, no pockets to actually gather, maybe a couple 'observation decks' at peaks that eventually get overcrowded. In terms of habitation, a place for passing by. As a 'planter-in-city-scale' kind of concept it works I guess. 

will galloway ·  Jun 11, 24 7:14 AM

for those who are claiming the project a failure in advance of its construction, what do you think of the removal of the highway to make way for a river( Cheonggyecheon ) a few years back? The river is fed by pump because it is not naturally very full or flowing and absolutely man made, even fabricated. But everyone loves it and spends a lot of time around it. Architects and planners point to it as an example for the world even...

So why does Hearthwick get shit when less personal projects get a pass? What exactly is it about this project that suggests it wont be popular or that it will fail? On the face of it the project will be very succesful and maybe even contribute to the development of seoul as a human scaled city. Something it can use more of IMO.