Urban Regeneration of the Jamsil Sports Complex

“Jamsil Ludens” literally means “playing Jamsil,” with the word “play” referring to various social interactions and cultural experience as described by Dutch cultural theorist Johan Huizinga in his book, Homo Ludens. “Jamsil Ludens Park” reflects both the cross-pollination of creative ideas at the mixed-use MICE complex and various sports, performance and cultural activities at the riverfront park that families will be visiting Jamsil to enjoy. Therefore, Jamsil Ludens Park is envisioned as a place creative for innovative individuals, attractive to ordinary families and exciting for both locals and visitors.

Jamsil Ludens Park’s design began by interpreting the site as the meeting place of Jamsil’s natural and urban elements. The public park along the waterfront was “laced” with curvy pedestrian paths and the mixed-use MICE complex was “hashed” to connect with surrounding urban grids. Sports, performance and cultural facilities work as the connective tissues between these two elements, while a monorail connects the Han riverfront and Jamsil Ludens Park to COEX, an important urban center of Gangnam.