A transformed former city highway reborn as a linear park with over 200 local species of trees, shrubs and flowers are lined as a walkable plant library for residents and visitors to the city.
Introduction
Seoullo 7017 (Korean: 서울로 7017), also known as the Seoul Skygarden or Skypark, is a elevated,linear park in Seoul, built atop a former highway overpass. The path, which isabout one kilometer in length and lined with 24,000 plants, is similar to New York City's High Line. Skygarden was designed by MVRDV, a Dutch firm, and opened in May 2017. In the future, the park may become an urban nursery, growing trees and plants for replanting elsewhere in the city. The path also improves walking times around the city's Central Station.
Reason to Be Selected
An excellent example of urban aging infrastructure transformed into lively public space.
Highlights:
Abandoned highway overpassPlant village in the heart of Seoul
Details
Seoullo, the Korean name for Skygarden translates to ‘towards Seoul’ and ‘Seoul Street’, while 7017 marks the overpass’ construction year of 1970, and its new function as a public walkway in 2017. The pedestrianised viaduct next to Seoul's main station is the next step towards making the city and especially the central station district, greener, friendlier and more attractive, whilst connecting all patches of green in the wider area.
Recommended
The Skypark begins at Malli-dong and continues northeast past Seoul Station, ending 1,024 meters later near Namdemun at Hoehyeon Station. The park is visible from Seoul Station but the nearest stairway is across the street from the front of the station, or subway exit 1 of the Seoul Metro.The main challenge of the Skygarden has been to transform the existing overpass into a public garden, overlaying a matrix of Korean flora onto the 16m elevated steel and concrete structure. How to transform a 1970’s highway into a Skygarden and how to change the daily life of thousands of people who cross Seoul’s city centre every day?
The linear park is arranged according to the Korean alphabet and designed as a collection of small gardens, each one with its very own composition, perfume, colour and identity. The landscape will change according to the seasons: the bright colours of leaves in autumn of the Aceraceae family (maples), the blossom of cherry trees and rhododendron in spring, the evergreen conifers trees in winter and shrubs and trees bearing fruit in summer.
Conclusions
Seoul Skygarden’s contributes to enhancing the experience of users, boosting the park with activities that engage the city on a cultural and commercial level. A living nursery. Multiple stairs, lifts, bridges and escalators connect the city to the new park, rebounding it to the adjacent urban fabric.
| Lat: | 37 |
| Lng: | 126 |
| Type: | |
| Region: | Asia |
| Scale: | Region |
| Field: | Infrastructure |
| City: | Seoul |