We were invited by the curator of the Suseong International Biennale, Choon Choi, along with three other teams, to create permanent public installations in designated green spaces throughout the Suseong-gu district for the inaugural Suseong International Biennale. The brief by the curators for these installations was a self-reflection place which also relates to the main theme of the biennial, Relational Field.

What makes this project unique for us is the use of materials. By incorporating rocks as structural elements, we aim to create a hybrid installation that combines natural materials with prefabricated components such as steel beams and roof cladding.

Our main inspiration comes from our initial observations in the South Korean cities of Seoul and Daegu, where we noticed a unique blend of nature and technology in urban spaces. While these cities are heavily influenced by cutting-edge technology, with highways, digital displays, and high-rises dominating the landscape, natural elements such as rivers and mountains remain an integral and tangible part of the environment.

Daejin-ji is a park situated beside a human-made water reservoir, encircled by highways and towering high-rises. As you sit in the park, you can see lotus flowers gently floating on the lake while the hum of passing cars fills the air.

The client, Suseong City, along with the biennial curators, Choon Choi and Youngmun Kim, worked diligently to bring our design to life with minimal changes from concept to execution. The only modification was the seating unit’s material, which had to be adjusted due to sourcing challenges under tight deadlines.

As an image, SUPRA looks very different from our other projects. The use of rocks seems like an extravagant architectural gesture that we usually avoid in our designs. However, rocks are an integral element of landscape design in South Korea, where the naturally rugged terrain of mountains and valleys shaped our inspiration. This approach — focusing on existing structures while making new designs — aligns closely with our overarching design philosophy, as outlined in The Carrier Bag Theory of Architecture.

Email interview conducted by John Hill.