The "Saya Park" project stretches through the forest area of the Korean Gyeongsang Province like a monolithic concrete sculpture.
Àlvaro Siza and Carlos Castanheira are jointly developing a three-part building complex consisting of a pavilion, chapel and observatory.
Saya Parkby Alvaro Siza and Carlos Castanheira uses a rough exposed concrete image to stand out from its green surroundings, while its long meandering shape and its close contact with the ground make it blend in with it. The texture of the wooden formwork is printed onto the concrete, in another gesture that relates the artificial material to its natural setting.
The "Art Pavilion" comprises a variety of art galleries and exhibition spaces. Upon entering, visitors are first received in a library that is housed in a separate area. The cave-like structure consists of two shafts that are connected by a tunnel. High concrete walls, straight shapes and an interplay between light and shadow, caused by individual perforations, structure the interior of the building. The chapel, conceived as a "space for inner beauty and introspection", is located directly on the slope and faces east to catch the first rays of sun of the day. The observatory, which has not yet been completed, is to be built on a small hill to provide a view of the deep valley landscape.
