Architect

Hyundon Shin; Wonman Hoi
Juhyun Chug
Yangkyo Chin

Type of Area

Stream with artificial banks
Marsh

Land/water interaction

Embankment
Promenade
Terraces/steps

Built Environment Types

Completely built

Scale of Impact

District/neighbourhood
City
Regional

Intervention Scale (Spatial)

Linear development – multiple interventions

Project Types

Green infrastructure
Outdoor recreation
Urban design

Urban/ Rural

Inner urban area

Visibility and Openness

Visible from vantage points

Reclaiming the river

The Cheonggyecheon River revitalisation in Seoul is a well-known and ambitious river recovery project. It was designed by Hyundon Shin, Wonman Hoi, Juhyun Chug and Yangkyo Chin and initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2005. It is one of the most important recent projects for urban renewal, which was created by demolishing a run-down expressway and revitalising a buried river and its immediate neighbourhood at the same time. The Cheonggyecheon central area now hosts a green waterfront park accompanied by an improved public transport system as its main attraction.

The Cheonggyecheon area is the largest commercial centre in Seoul. It was once an important river in the history of Seoul, but pollution levels became a concern. To resolve this the river was covered with concrete and turned into a highway in 1960 to host the increasing traffic. By the end of the century the highway became outdated, as costs for its maintenance increased and the volume of transport posed health concerns for the surrounding neighbourhood. It also separated local communities. Noise pollution and safety hazards contributed to an unfavourable living environment around this central district where even company headquarters moved away because of the overall experience of stagnation.

Instead of investing a huge budget to upgrade the highway the municipality decided to demolish it in 2003. As the elevated highway provided traffic access its removal while restoring the river was seen as a quite a radical idea that many residents, businesses and traffic experts initially opposed. The city government therefore engaged stakeholders through consultations before carrying out the work. The aim was to clarify the benefits of restoring the Cheonggyecheon stream over reconstruction and how it addressed safety problems and mobility demands and how it could revitalise community life.

After removing the expressway and opening the river park in 2005 the air quality and noise levels improved. This was further enhanced by upgrading public transport and giving it priority over cars, thus promoting walkability along the new corridor. The almost six km long re-discovered Cheonggyecheon stream has enhanced the quality of life in this part of Seoul and the river has become an attractive element of the city, inviting not only locals but ten thousands of daily visitors. One might call it an extensive park in the sense of a linear playground combining history, urban culture and urban nature. The project also reduced the urban heat island effect along the waterfront, reducing the local temperature by 5°C and increasing wind speeds. It also introduced biodiversity into the dense urban landscape, even introducing new animal species. The main pedestrian passage along the water edge on both riverbanks is located on lower-level terraces with natural recreational areas and even willow wetlands along its banks. It provides access to the water with steps, timber decks or stepping-stones, offering quite a sense of being away.