Revealing the Lost Topography

경기북부청사 광장

Year of completion: 2019

Location: Gyeonggi, Korea

Client: Gyeonggi Province

The project was to renovate the plaza in front of the Gyeonggi Province’s North Office to a civic venue that adapts to the changing climate and with cultural significance. The design process engaged extensive public hearing and participation, and the landscape architect played a critical role in the convincing process by presenting the best and optimal option for the majority while keeping the core concept of elaborated ground pattern design. In the Canopied Plaza, only trees with more than 10’ high canopies were planted so that the space can still function as an urban void while providing an escape when the air quality gets severe, in combination with water features. The sophisticated paving pattern symbolizes the lost topography of the city during its urbanization. Very subtle elevation changes were realized, following the visual contours that enable smooth runoff and temporal activities like skateboarding and water play. Now the plaza, unlike others in front of public buildings paved with monolithic stones, always feels welcoming and attractive thanks to the ‘carpet-like ground.