Project
Borders carry immense historical, political, and cultural implications. At their most aggressive, borders materialize in the form of walls. One notable exception is the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). If the traditional border is a line, then the DMZ is a surface. This unoccupied stretch of land, up to 4km wide, separates two of the most heavily militarized borders in the world.Borders carry immense historical, political, and cultural implications. At their most aggressive, borders materialize in the form of walls. One notable exception is the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). If the traditional border is a line, then the DMZ is a surface. This unoccupied stretch of land, up to 4km wide, separates two of the most heavily militarized borders in the world.
The DMZ manifested in the 1950s as the result of a conflict between the People’s Republic of Korea (North) and the Republic of Korea (South). The DMZ is often depicted as a densely fortified, barren minefield. However, the lack of human activity in the area for this extended timeframe has allowed it to become a sanctuary for many species.
DeMilitarized Zone
We propose that new forms of non-military architecture could be constructed in this no-man’s land to begin to ease the existing tension. Our project is a meeting place that serves to reduce the physical division of the DMZ as much as possible. It is a place where separated family members, visitors and even government officials from both sides can confront each other in this heterotopic space.
Thesis
Contemporary geopolitics and global conflicts demand that nations grapple with border security. The delicate separation that our project creates represents both the symbolic and practical regulations of current socio-political conditions; there is longing for unification but politics creates a divide. How can architecture become a unifying force in a divisive world? The form of our project necessitates that the two halves are separate, which means that they can not rely on each other for support. The design of the masts allows the two halves to act individually, but also be very close. The masts are pinned connections to make it possible to adjust the distance of the gap during construction. They support the bridge deck via tension cables, and they are tied back through larger tension cables to the large concrete foundations at the entrance to bridge decks.
structure
To reduce the required capacity of the masts the bridge deck is designed to be as light as possible. The structure is made up of a tension/compression separated truss. The tension members are made of thin cables and the compression members are placed only where necessary. This allows the decking structure to be very transparent, which in combination with the glass decking accentuates the precarious nature of the space. Another difficulty in the construction of this project would be that it would have to be built from each side. The deck is designed in modules that fit in structural rails to make this easier.
Perspectives
Our project aims to serve as a mnemonic device that acts as a reminder that the two Koreas are one at heart. The architectural form serves as an artificial construct, similarly to the political conditions that necessitate borders. The antithesis of this architecture is the degradation of the structure, causing the bridges to shift and form a connection.
Bennet Oh
More by Bennet Oh
Arch Hive