GREEN HIGHWAY

Dutch architectural practice MVRDV has won an international competition to transform a section of an abandoned highway in the South Korean capital of Seoul into a skygarden.

Its design for the 938-metre-long elevated former road includes the planting of more than 250 species of trees, shrubs and flowers, which will be organised according to the Korean alphabet.

Cafes, flower shops, market stalls, libraries and greenhouses are also planned for the new overpass which will reduce a 25-minute walk to the city’s main rail station to just 11 minutes.

Winy Maas, principal architect and co-founder of MVRDV, said: “The Seoul Skywalk will change the daily lives of many people in the city for the better: they will have a pleasant shortcut through a green oasis in the midst of all the traffic and concrete.

“It is a walk through a park, a living dictionary of the natural heritage of Korea, connecting the city dwellers with nature. Part of the project is a nursery in which plants will be raised for the surrounding parks; in this way the Skywalk will help to make green the entire city centre.”

MVRDV will work with Dutch company Studio Makkink & Bey, plus landscape designer Ben Kuipers, on the overhaul of the overpass which was constructed in the 1970s.

It was closed to heavy traffic after being found to be unsafe in 2009. Instead of being demolished, a competition was launched for architects and designers to come up with ideas for its reuse.

The project is due to be completed in 2017.