Dror for Seoul Share Square

Korea Listens: Seoul Share Square

In today’s world, technology enables sharing in new ways: the power of education, petition, and self-expression is quickly evolving. Our proposal envisions a physical and virtual square: a free and open platform for ideas that empowers people to share anything they believe. A simple tilt creates an amphitheater that doubles as a recording studio to document and maximize exposure. Its underside reveals seamless connections to public transportation, while pedestrian paths anchor the idea and moment within the fabric of Seoul. The square is always open: open mic, open stage, an open platform for ideas. With or without a crowd, all voices will be heard. Welcome to Seoul Share Square.

The square’s always-open stage and recording studio gives the site back to the people of Seoul, providing an effective way for all voices to be heard. The recordings will form a digital archive for an ever-growing oral history project: an invaluable resource for future generations and a powerful, 21st-century strategy for memorializing the site.

The surface consists of multiple tiered, grass-covered disks that facilitate a natural circulation, allowing people to climb to the top any way they like. The disks’ stepped orientation echoes theater-style seating, providing unobstructed views from any vantage point.

The plaza activates the site in a way that relates to its historic context while providing a meaningful, accessible resource for the community. As the city’s urban fabric evolves, the square will stand as an enduring site for the entire community: the plaza brings together people from all industries, cultures, and ages around the notion of sharing.

Curated views can be observed from different points along and inside the plaza. In a gesture of respect, the square’s tilt allows a renewed vista of Deoksu Palace along with framed views of the city hall and Seoul Anglican Church. The square creates a sculptural yet sensitive connection to the cultural and contemporary surroundings. Its simple tilt directs views and movement toward the various historic and public facilities nearby. Sensitivity to its surroundings is further symbolized by the plaza’s tilted shape: it lowers itself down to the city and gives way to a striking cantilevered tip, creating an elegant entrance to the transit system below.