Designed by Archiplan, their second prize winning proposal for the Performing Arts Studio of the National Theatre of Korea is an extension design concept for the performers practice facilities in the basement of the existing plaza. The main issue is the vitalization of the environment which is now 'blocked' by the retaining wall on the edge of the main road and by the steep slope that makes a disconnection of the site. By embracing art, culture, and the city itself, this proposal connects the two-dimensional old theatre-plaza and the nearby park to link the performer and the citizens while allowing the art and culture flow well. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Jangchung Culture Corridor
In Jangchung district, Seoul Korea, there coexist National Theatre of Korea, which is the cradle of culture and art, Nam-san (Nam Mountain), number of Universities, cultural facilities, parks and hotels.With Nam-san (Nam mountain) as the center, Dongdaemun shopping district and Daehangno is linked, which are crowded with youth.
The composition for a cultural complex in this district is becoming the main issue of cultural solution of this area.The National Theatre is in the midst of symbolic location in a geographical and cultural aspect.It needs an attractive force as a public space, for people of all social stratum.
Crossing Boundaries, Making Harmony - ‘Restoration of Publicness’
First, we need to start from understanding and recovering topographic context of this area. Though the existing National Theatre seems as if it is put on a natural landscape, yet the site is an artificial -cut and filled up- ground.The site wants to be a part of the foot of Nam-san.
The site of its outstanding natural and historical beauty needs to be environmentally revitalized.We propose the removal of the retaining wall and breaking down the boundary and lower the threshold of the cultural facility and let it open.The continuous space composition penetrates into the National Theatre and this open-space becomes a park, plaza and a stage, which will arouse diverse cultural action.
The plaza of the Theatre will be restored to its original part of nature, so that it will be connected with the nearby park and create the environment as a cultural life zone and improve the citizen’s quality of life. The physical shape of the architectural proposal embodies the formless language of ‘melody, rhythm and dance.’ The vesica piscis formed opening of the plaza becomes a new symbolic gate to the Theatre as a “breath” of performance and nature. The ‘breath’ embraces the classical and modern emotions of cultural place.
The practice rooms are where long, delicate, hard and immersed preparations are made for a perfection of one moment performance.The performance of the Theatre is complete at once with specialized facilities for each of the different organizations. The Korean traditional opera, the national dance company, and Korean traditional orchestra have an independent and efficient operating system.
