Bringing nature’s invisibles to visible
The Daejinji Promenade, a prominent waterfront park in Suseong-gu, Daegu, now features a pavilion designed to offer a tranquil retreat in the heart of the city. Built as part of the 2024 Suseong International Biennale, the pavilion is named SUPRA, a term that contrasts with “infra,” meaning “beneath” or “infrastructure.” True to its name, SUPRA uses architecture to visualize the water cycle, inviting visitors to reflect on the Biennale’s central theme: our relationship with nature.
The Promenade itself juxtaposes the serene landscape of a calm waterway with the hum of traffic from a nearby boulevard. While seemingly incongruous, this coexistence exemplifies the adaptable greenery that weaves through Korean cities. SUPRA embraces this duality, proposing a thoughtful coexistence of nature, humanity, and urban life. The pavilion’s design emphasizes the often-overlooked cycles of water, fostering moments of reflection on the natural processes surrounding us.
The structure is simple: two massive boulders support a large, sloping roof. The use of these monumental stones evokes dolmens, tying the design to historical and natural imagery. The roof itself comprises I-beams and wood, overlaid with corrugated stainless steel sheets that create a rippling surface. Rainwater flows down the roof’s valleys into a circular cobblestone path below, forming a shallow pond. When the rain ceases, the water gradually seeps into the ground or evaporates into the air, completing its natural journey. By highlighting this cyclical process, SUPRA offers an intuitive, tangible demonstration of nature’s rhythms.
Anchors fixed into the boulders secure the roof via cables, a detail reminiscent of the foundation stones of traditional hanok houses. Over time, the marks left by these cables will serve as subtle evidence of human intervention, blending the past with the present. Beneath the roof, a bench invites visitors to pause. The boulders flanking the bench create a sense of intimacy, shielding occupants while maintaining the pavilion’s openness.
SUPRA transforms the Promenade into more than just a picturesque park. At lunchtime, one can imagine people sitting here, gazing at the clouds, and listening to the distant sounds of traffic. The pavilion not only provides shelter but also encourages visitors to reconnect with the cycles of nature, making it a thoughtful addition to the urban landscape.
Project: SUPRA / Location: Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea / Architect: SO? / Project team: Sevince Bayrak, Oral Göktaş, Aysima Akın, Mete Bezek, Asu Pala, Yichi Zhang / Type: Permanant Public Installation / Client: Suseong International Biennale / Size: 100m² / Completion: 2024 / Photograph: ©Oral Göktaş (courtesy of the architect)
