IROJE architects & Planners 履露齋

Myeongjeong Meditation Garden

Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners

MYEONGJEONG MEDITATION GARDEN

Iroje Architects & Planners

YEAR
2019

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Seung H-sang

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
The Naeun Structural Engineering Co.ltd.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Woolim Electronical Engineering & Consulting

LOCATION
Gunwi-gun, South Korea

AREA
150 m²

CATEGORY
Park, Cultural Architecture

LIGHTING DESIGN
New Lite

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Youngjo Construction Co.

This place, asked for an observation deck on the northern peak of the arboretum, is the place where visitors come after seeing almost all the beautiful scenery of the arboretum.

Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners

Therefore, in order to make the view of the arboretum more beautiful to those who bring all the memories of the arboretum, it is necessary to keep the memory in mind.

This is why this place is not a mere observation deck but a place for the visitors to reflect on themselves.

Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners

Thus, this place was named Myeongjeong (Meditation Garden) at the first beginning of the design, and the entire facility was pushed into the ground.

Only the concrete front wall is visible, but even the concrete wall is covered by a fir forest. When people go up a slope led by a long wall, they will see a small opening and a long aisle.

Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners

If going along this narrow passage and turn the direction, the descending stairs are connected.

When people go down the stairs 27 meters and turn in the direction, they will encounter an unexpected space.

There, people will see water running on the stone wall, the floor covered with the water, and the stage on the opposite side connected by a passage over the water.

Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners

A long bench of concrete awaits them in front of the water. No trees can be seen here.

When people go in passing the water-flowing wall, a long silent space appears, and there are tabernacles like small sanctuaries in this space.

They can hear only the mere sound of the water running down the stone wall, but the sound of silence prevails. What lies here is only meditation.

Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners

It is truly spectacular to see the landscape of the arboretum spreading to the south and the soft and delicate silhouette of Mount Palgong which seems to have enveloped the whole world when people go up the narrow and steep staircase made between the stone walls.

This landscape is different from the one they saw first and it will be a new world again.

Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners


Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Courtesy of IROJE Architects & Planners


Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Site plan & Elevation
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Plan
Myeongjeong Meditation Garden
Section

IROJE architects & Planners 履露齋
T +82 2 7632010
IROJE architects & Planners 履露齋
20, Dongsung 4ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea