Grimshaw win architecture competition for 'one-of-a-kind' South Korean Horse theme park
A spokesperson from Grimshaw Architects has confirmed to Attractions Management that the practice has won an architecture competition to develop a horse theme park in Yeongcheon, South Korea.
The firm’s winning scheme, called The Park EverYoung, has been developed in collaboration with South Korean firms NOW Architects, Group Han Associates, Dohwa Engineering and DE Partners.
A rendering published online by the The Korea Racing Authority (KRA) shows the 148 hectare park will be located in the middle of a forested area and will have a racecourse and spectator pavilion at its heart. Part of the track will be suspended over a meandering artificial lake.
A landscaped path will be created to link the racecourse with a theme park located to the east, which will feature a wide range of equine-themed sports, activities and outdoor attractions.
In their introduction to the scheme, the winning design team said the park “seamlessly accommodates the joy and excitement of horse racing with the opportunities for respite,” adding that it has been envisaged “as a place for the whole family that encourages exploration and unexpected delight.”
The design uses a curved, sinuous body of water to link the race-goer facilities to the infield horse park," added Grimshaw Architects in a statement. "A hotel and state-of-the-art grandstand, integrated into the curved form of the racetrack, comprise key elements of the architecture."
The KRA launched the international contest, called LetsRun Park Yeongcheon, in November 2015. It is investing KRW260bn (US$224m, €211m, £148m) in the venture and will develop the park on an undeveloped 1,475,000 sq m site (15,800sq ft).
The authority said it wants to create a “one-of-a-kind unplugged horse utopia” to improve the overall image of horse racing, which is blighted in the country by its association with gambling and poor facilities.
“We want the park to become a tourist destination that enriches the local economy and provides an exemplary model for theme park development,” the KRA said.
The brief demanded the proposed parks are nature-friendly, consider the happiness of the horses and link local culture and horse culture through conceptual storytelling.
Designers also had to consider the need for the theme park to be profitable in its own right, and not reliant on profits from horse races.
The competition jury included Michael Dellis, a partner at PWP Landscape Architecture; Chris Johnson, a regional principal at Gensler UK; and Jong-Ruhl Hanh, chair of the Korean Institute of Architects.
An awards ceremony and exhibition for the winning design will be held from 18-31 March 2016.
The runners-up were teams led by Korean studios Dongsimwon Landscape Design – for their concept Journey of a Horse – and Designcamp MoonPark – for a park called Tracing Nature. They will be awarded KRW40m (US$35,500, €32,500, £22,000) and KRW20m (US$17,250, €16,250, £11,000) respectively.
Grimshaw Architects horse racing theme park South Korea design YeongcheonUAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Ben Channon has written Happy by Design, a new book about how architecture affects our mental health. He explains how we can all be happier at home