Cheonggyecheon Stream The Restoration Project

The City of Seoul is in the process of an important paradigm shift, changing from an autocentric development-oriented urban landscape to one that values the quality of life of its people and the importance of functioning ecosystems. By demolishing an elevated freeway and uncovering a section of the historic Cheonggyecheon Stream, the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project created both ecological and recreational opportunities along a 3.6-mile corridor in the center of Seoul. The project has proven catalytic, spurring economic growth and development in an area of Seoul that had languished over the last several decades.

Challenge:

The aging elevated freeway and concrete deck covering the Cheonggyecheon stream posed safety risks and needed to be repaired or removed. The government wanted to improve connectivity between the city’s north and south sides, which the freeway divided. Transportation experts were concerned that removing the elevated highway would increase traffic congestion and chaos in the northern end of the city since it carried 169,000 vehicles per day. The idea of removing the freeway also met initial opposition from many local business owners. The proposed stream restoration also presented challenges. Water is not naturally present in the Cheonggyecheon for most of the year except during the summer rainy season, making it difficult to create a consistent urban amenity.

Solution:

The Seoul Metropolitan Government chose to dismantle the elevated freeway and concrete deck covering the stream. To improve north-south linkages, 22 bridges — 12 pedestrian bridges and 10 for automobiles and pedestrians — were proposed to connect the two sides of the Cheonggyecheon. To reduce traffic congestion, car use was discouraged in the city center, rapid bus lines were added, and improved loading and unloading systems were implemented. To address business owners’ concerns, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held over 4,200 meetings to build consensus. Economic support was given to businesses and special agreements were made with vendors who had to move due to project construction. To address the variable flow of the Cheonggyecheon, water from the Han River and several subway pump stations is treated and pumped to create a consistent flow with an average depth of 40 centimeters in the Cheonggyecheon.

The stream in 1904

And a hundred years later, in 2005

The stream was the scene of several construction work during the Joseon dynasty. Stones embakments were built to prevent flooding and several stone bridges crossed over the river. The stream's main function was to collect sewage and drain it to the much bigger Han river. The poor allegedly lived on the left bank of the stream while the rich resided on the right side.

Once upon a time: Women washing clothes in the river in 1904

Now it become Historic laundry site

Project Team:

Client: Seoul Metropolitan Government
Main Designers: Cheongsuk Engineering (Section 1) Saman Engineering (Section 2) Dongmyung Engineering (Section 3)
Landscape Architect: SeoAhn Total Landscape
Main Contractors: Daelim (Section 1) LG Construction (Section 2) Hyundai Construction (Section 3)
Independent Check Engineers: Suhyoung Engineering (Section 1) Cheil Engineering (Section 2) Cheongsuk Engineering (Section 3)

During the Colonial Period, the Japanese occupant renamed the river from Gyecheon to Cheongyecheon. The river was then overflowing with sewage and the Japanese tried on several occasions to cover it up but failed due to a lack of funding.

After the Korean War, rural exodus created a massive immigration to Seoul and slums developped around the river at a very fast rate. The corrollary was an increase in the amount of trash, waste and sewage that was already clogging the river. Alarmed by this situation the government started work to cover up the river with concrete. Here is what the banks of the stream looked like in the 60's at the beginning of the works:

Role of the Landscape Architect:
After the civil engineers oversaw the first phase of the project, the landscape architects and designers directly oversaw the second and third stages of the construction in an attempt to create a more seamless environment. This is atypical for Korean construction projects, with the landscape architects managing three different landscape design groups, the civil engineering team, the bridge design team, and the lighting design team.