ArchiWorkshop’s “Urban Weave” Transforms Seoul Sports Complex into a Public Roof Terrace

ArchiWorkshop, in collaboration with Siaplan, has unveiled “Urban Weave,” a visionary proposal to reimagine the Gwangjang-dong Multi-Sports Complex in Gwangnaru, Seoul. The project seeks to transform the existing site into an open, multi-level civic sports infrastructure that seamlessly integrates sport, landscape, and everyday public life, moving away from the traditional closed-off arena model.

A Continuous Public Roof Terrace

The core of the “Urban Weave” concept is a continuous public roof terrace that extends across the site, offering panoramic views toward the Han River. This elevated urban ground is designed to support circulation, gathering, and relaxation, serving as a key civic element that connects the complex to its surroundings. Beneath this expansive roofscape, shaded public zones and porous edges are envisioned to foster a dynamic interplay between interior programs and the urban fabric.

Reinterpreting Historical Context

Historically, Gwangnaru served as a vital river crossing, a place of movement, gathering, and dispersal that shaped urban activity. “Urban Weave” reinterprets this legacy not through historical mimicry, but by translating it into a contemporary spatial system that prioritizes movement, exchange, and public continuity. The architectural framework itself is conceived as an operative structure for organizing public life, positioning the sports complex as a civic platform where the city, landscape, and daily activities remain interconnected.

A Hybrid Active Grid

Instead of a conventional, event-driven container, the Gwangjang-dong Multi-Sports Complex is reimagined as an open, three-dimensional framework. This “Hybrid Active Grid” weaves together horizontal plates, terraces, circulation routes, and layered program zones. Sports, cultural, and community programs are distributed across multiple interconnected levels, with functions interwoven horizontally and vertically. This approach allows circulation and activity to overlap, creating continuous spatial relationships between movement, program, and the surrounding landscape.

Integrated Sports Facilities

At the heart of the “Urban Weave” structure is a fighting sports arena, designed to accommodate disciplines such as taekwondo and mixed martial arts. However, this arena is not conceived as a standalone venue. It is deeply embedded within the broader civic framework, ensuring that the complex supports both scheduled events and consistent daily use by the public.

Connecting Fragmented Areas

The proposal also addresses the fragmentation of existing facilities on the site. To the north, “Urban Weave” introduces a unified pedestrian network that reconnects these disparate elements. To the south and east, circulation pathways extend towards the river edge, establishing a crucial spatial link between the city and the waterfront. The entire site is envisioned as a transitional field, bridging the gap between landscape and urban infrastructure.

Key facts

This development matters for Paionia7 readers as it presents an innovative approach to urban sports complex design, emphasizing public accessibility, integration with the urban fabric, and the creation of dynamic, multi-functional public spaces. The “Urban Weave” concept offers a compelling model for how sports facilities can evolve beyond traditional typologies to become vibrant civic hubs.

Source: https://www.designboom.com/architecture/archiworkshop-seoul-sports-complex-continuous-public-roof-terrace-urban-weave/