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Description

The AnL Studio designed a public observatory deck, called Oceanscope, in Incheon, Korea made of recycled materials, including old shipping containers. The used containers are re-purposed and recycled for a temporary shelter in many rural areas in Korea simply because it is inexpensive. However, indiscreet uses of these commercial metal-box products that don't have harmonious relationships with their surroundings are causing an unsuccessful outcome in rural environments.

With these issues in mind, OceanScope is an initiative from the Mayor of Incheon City, which has one of the biggest ports in Korea. OceanScope aims to find unused containers potential of practical re-use for public space and to provide the bleak containers with new functional aesthetics that can be assimilated within rural landscapes.

Oceanscope consists of five recycled containers, which provide Observatory deck (three containers) as well as temporary exhibition space (two containers). Rather than arranging the containers in a standardized stack or in a linear alignment, AnL Studio envisioned an architectural and sculptural landmark embodying various features and functions ranging from architectural framing/capturing view and aesthetics associated with the site and the panoramic view of the Incheon City.

To this end, the OceanScope, located in the historic sunset place of Incheon city, expresses the dream of establishing an observatory deck, a sustainable design proposal based on the renovation of the least expensive unused containers. In order to overcome the limitation of a building site where ground level is too low to view a beautiful sunset, the containers' structure can be leaned at various angles (10º, 30º and 50). This will allow visitors to ascend the stairs within different frames and sequences, reaching higher positions and diverse viewpoints towards Ocean, New Incheon Bridge and Sunset.

Biography

AnL Studio is a studio that results of the partnership of Keehyun Ahn and Minsoo Leem, with works in the fields of architecture and interior design.

Minsoo Lee is an interdisciplinary interior architect and digital designer who is interested in combining Computational media and Physical computing into the architectural space. He is currently developing his thesis project, Tangible Dots-Formscreen which is 3D geometric-object mapping system using new emerging technologies for the immersive, intelligent and dynamic skin of architecture.