UNBUILT PROJECTS
416 MEMORIAL PARK ANSAN, S-KOREA SUBMITTED BY: UNITEDLAB ASSOCIATES / VTRILLOARQUITECTOS Photo Credit: © treceuve;UNITEDLAB Associates/Vtrilloarquitectos
CITATION “A dynamic project that poetically transforms physical to provoke an emotional response. This memory place utilizes the organization and layout of the cultural park to successfully honor the lives of those lost in the Sewol ferry disaster while educating and inspiring its visitors.”
In the Unbuilt Category for Complete commissioned architectural design work, not yet built, and completed by architects licensed more than 10 years, a Citation goes to UNITEDLAB Associates, Vtrilloarquitectos, for 416 Memorial Park, located in Ansan, South Korea. This vibrant space is a cultural park comprising a complex of exhibitions, educational facilities, and a columbarium to commemorate and share the pain of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014, a tragedy that claimed the lives of over three hundred people, predominantly schoolchildren. The memory of the Sewol ferry sinking is indelible, but that scene cannot be recreated. Instead, the goal is to transform the moment of the disaster into a physical space. For those who lost their loved ones, those who perished without reason, and those who witnessed it, the 416 Memorial will be constructed as a place of sublimation rather than a simple memorial site. Sorrow is not an isolated emotion; therefore, the design team endeavors to craft a poem that transmutes feelings of resistance, anger, and sadness into a reflection of the times. The rooftop garden serves as a metaphor for the birth of new life, and, in line with sustainability principles, two-hundred and fifty birch trees are planted as a tribute to the victims. The layout of 416 Memorial Park enhances the visitor’s experience by following a sequence of movement. The architectural building gradually descends from the entrance to the memorial space below, and the inclined ramp leading downward serves as a deliberate metaphor for both a gradual sequence and an inclined ship. The central pop-up event space acts as a public hub connecting educational, event, and exhibition facilities. Upon passing through a corridor that transforms into a private zone, visitors enter the realm of shared social memories and ultimately reach the Commemoration and Enshrinement Space. This outdoor area features an upper pyramid section open to the outside, allowing the natural seasons and the passage of time to create a phenomenal experience.
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