INTERNATIONAL
YEONGCHEON HORSE PARK
our view satisfies the brief of elevating the
sport.
we asked the question: what more can be
found? We came across a whole series
of cultural aspects between horse and
rider. We were inspired by some fantastic
lectures by a woman called Temple
Grandin, and movies that were made
focusing on horse and man. All this led to
a framework that on the one hand there is
excitement and connection between the
dynamic relationship of racing, but also a
calmer and softer side of understanding
the animal and its needs.
Having this duality established in our
conceptual framework we then started
to look how this can be overlaid to the
site. We have two elements that balance
themselves out and we framed them
through South Korean culture. The site
was very big and the characteristic feature
that divided it into halves was a large
mountain peak; this division created two
realms so to speak.
The first realm on one side of the
mountain was an open plain overlooking
the lake which was an ideal landscape for
the horse racing track. So that is where
we placed the actual racecourse and
inside that loop of the racecourse we
proposed that the horses could run free
and unrestrained to enjoy their freedom
when they are not racing - that was the
culmination of the excitement element.
Then on the other side of the mountain
we had a more hidden realm as it was
closed off from the valley nested between
the mountains. So this naturally developed
into the perfect place to inspire the
calm and soft interpretation of the
duality behind our idea. This is where
we proposed the horse assisted therapy
centre. We used the mountain as the
divider between the two spaces. We also
explored further the idea of the mountain
as while it could be used to divide the
spaces it could also be used to bind them.
On the mountain itself we have placed
a control centre with a glass pole spire
which became a vantage point that allowed
for a panoramic view of both sides of
the mountain. That is where the idea of
binding together the two perspectives
comes from, so you don’t only see the
excitement of the racecourse but the
caring side of the therapy centre. This in
What is the most unique aspect?
We thought it was quite important that
there is this other element, the race course
is quite obvious it was present in all
applications for the competition. So the
unique aspect was the spire in the centre
and the other side of the mountain where
the horses are allowed to move freely and
to regain their strength after racing.
The other feature is the grandstand
which I have yet to mention. This was
covered by a large green roof which was
designed to seamlessly integrate the
structure with the landscape. Because the
grandstand was a mandatory part of the
design we wanted to introduce this other
element in the form of this statement large
spire which granted the full perspective
of the landscape and binds the two parts
together as the mountain was a given as it
was such a prominent topographic feature.
Also quite an intricate aspect is that the
race track itself sits on top of a parking
garage so we wanted to minimise the
impact on the natural landscape, we did
a lot of studies to find out how to position
the building to make the site as sustainable
as possible. We really wanted to avoid
destroying the natural character of the site.
What was the main challenge you
faced?
Well I don’t think it was the landscape of
Yeongcheon, the landscape was more of