nooyoon transform oil tanks to hidden gems in sangam korea

nooyoon transform oil tanks to hidden gems in sangam korea
all images courtesy of nooyoon

 
transforming the mopo oil reserve base, south korean designer hyuntek yoon of nooyoon has created a cultural and recreational cluster on the site. located in sangam, north west of seoul, the abandoned area was previously filled with waste until the 2002 work cup which saw it turn into an an ecological park, digital media city, and world cup stadium. ‘hidden gem’ seeks to revitalize the last piece of waste-land for public use. the project is based on the following questions: how can five oil tanks be transform to embed recreational programs and how can multiple activities interrelate and operate with each other? there are five different programs in total: opera theater, museum, ferris wheel, climbing center, and a diving pool & spa. each of them will be located inside one of the tanks and operated by a main platform. in addition, the necklace – a large ferris wheel will stand on the site as a vertical landmark, offering views over seoul’s skyline. similar to handcrafted gems, the oil tanks will become productive spaces with a new sense of life through these diverse architectural interventions.

design diagram

the platform developed by nooyoon is the entrance to the foyer and is a communal space for everyone – it connects to the the opera theater, museum, necklace, climbing center, and diving pool and spa. the 200 meter long by 30 meter wide volume has an interior space of 8 meters high with large ceiling openings for daylight. the surrounding area also has the information center, offices, restaurant, classrooms, shops, and the vertical core to the parking lot and mechanical room and storage in the basement. the roof is covered by greenery as an extension from the mountain, providing another public exterior space. a natural sloping hill at the front is used for larger performances, markets and events.

main platform

opera theater

the new cultural hub features a theatre in one of the five oil tanks. the adaptation of the first tank on the west size into the fly tower of the ‘proscenium theater’ will see it used for a variety of performances. the vertically stacked space has a capacity of 1200 people and it also includes the back of house, offices, cafe, exhibition spaces, and small studios for artists and people.  

opera theater

museum

the museum is intended for temporary and permanent exhibitions, including ones about the history and environmental issues of the site, which is the last piece of the sangam area. using the structure of the oil tank the wall will be sliced vertically and horizontally and then reassembled with additional surfaces. a spiral ramp will function as the main method of circulation, creating a continuous space. an alternation between solid and glass walls, creates a sense of spatial rhythm through the juxtaposition of artificial light and natural light.

museum

the necklace

seoul is one of the only cities in the world that has no ferris wheel. the small mountain or hill in sangam is the perfect location for this giant structure. its geographical location provides a wide view of the seoul skyline. the surrounding area’s low profile emphasizes the verticality of the necklace as a landmark. its name, the ‘necklace’ refers to the fact that there are no spokes inside, making it the world’s largest spokeless ferris wheel. the base is located under the hill, and the overall the diameter is 180 meters, with the top elevation reaching 226.5 meters.

the necklace

climbing center

two types of climbing walls and a fitness hall will provide new opportunities for dynamic activities at the site. the exterior wall has a 16 meter facade and is 105 meters wide. the maximum capacity of the climbing wall is approximately 200 people. the interior climbing wall has a 14 meter facade and the bottom is 65 meters wide with a capacity of 100 people. the climbing center is designed by adding surfaces inside and outside of the oil tank. slot windows between each wall bring natural light into the interior, while the rooftop is directly connected to the fitness hall. 

climbing center

diving pool

the repurposed oil tank becomes a diving pool with various square-shaped openings on the facade, creating a surrealistic atmosphere. measuring 21.5 meters in diameter and 27 meters deep, divers can experience extreme depths even in the city. on the ground floor, visitors and divers can enjoy the spa after diving to relax their body and mind. this facility is located directly after the climbing center, so climbers can also easily use this space before and after workout. the spiral ramp is coiled around the pool as the main circulation, and can also be used as a jogging track.

diving pool

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project info:

status: competition entry
designer: nooyoon by hyuntek yoon
program: cultural & recreational cluster
location: seoul, korea
year: august 2013

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