The Han Gang Intertwined Terrain is a three-lane bridge connecting the areas of Haneul-park in the north and the Gangseo residential area in the south. The north river bank is a popular leisure area and connects further to the business and working districts in the northwest.

The demographic situation in Seoul is currently following the same path as Tokyo, as a mega city that attracts young professionals with a new nomadic lifestyle. In 2021, 90% of people between 25-39 live in single-person households (D. Chang, D. Nomiya, H. Zhang, 2021). We were asking ourselves how a new terrain over the Han Gang could adapt to this social situation. Our design concept has its roots in the historical map of Seoul. In ancient times, Seoul was interpreted as a city where the landscape, mountain and city were entwined and overlapped. This quality has disappeared and been replaced by homogenous building blocks lacking intercommunication. We believe the quality of intertwined terrain also has potential for the future. This bridge is a continuation of the urban and natural network. The Fast Lane links bike paths, subways and parkways where bicycles and small mobilities can cross quickly. The Panorama Lane extends the urban experience with indoor areas where people can gather. The Green Lane connects mountains, hills and parks and provides paths that offer abundant greenery.

The structure is a combination of arch and suspension. This structural form creates a larger span and reduces the number of columns in the river. It also brings undulating surfaces, resulting in an interwoven experience of different heights. The use of the structural layer is different for each lane. The Panorama Lane's structural layer accommodates more equipment ducts to support the interior space. In the Green Lane, the structural layer determines the thickness of the soil and, thus, the distribution of different kinds of plants, with thicker soil in the middle, where trees can exist, and shrubs at the edges. The Fast Lane has a more straightforward structural form as it does not require the same structure height. As a result, the intertwined terrain creates a rich experience where history meets the future, transportation meets daily life and human connections.

Professor: Manabu Chiba, Tetsuki Nakakura, Yoshihiro Fukushima