Since the end of the nineteen century, the city of Incheon has been an important entry port to South Korea. The city grew rapidly along the commercial success of its port developing a cosmopolitan character built upon the mixture of foreign visitors and local residents.
In the last decades, the port has lost its relevance and has become an obsolete area of the city with no defined use. The proposal for a new master plan for Incheon’s port aims to revitalize the area by proposing new uses along the water line and facilitating pedestrian access from the city center.
A new linear park is proposed extending parallel to the coastline and acting as a transition zone between the fabric of the city and the new marina port. To facilitate the pedestrian access to the port from the city center it is proposed to bury the existing road running parallel to the water while at the same time it is proposed an elevated passage extending from the train station to the water line. This elevated connection re-uses an existing road overpass.
The first phase of the master plan focuses on an existing storage building to the north side of the port. This 300m long structure will be used for cultural activities. The exterior areas around the building are designed to support those future activities while providing a new face to the waterfront. Between the existing building and the water line the park extends in the form of a terraced “building” providing natural platforms in various heights allowing for beautiful ocean views. Small buildings will be located along these green terraces such as restaurants or cafes. The new terraced structure acts as a cover for the parking areas and a market both located at street level avoiding underground constructions.
