Initiated as a competition to revitalize an underutilized parking lot adjacent to the Daegu World Cup Stadium, Jerde was commissioned to design the project upon submitting their concept for a highly iconic, mosaic of surfaces and organic forms inspired by Daegu’s own textile industry.
The design was further inspired by the Daegu World Cup Stadium as a symbol of global unity—the surface mosaic of the new space acting as a metaphor for the interweaving of the diverse cultures of the world who will visit this new social realm and central hub of entertainment, exhibits, dining, and sports activities.
Further channeling the needs of the local people, Daegu Color Square Stadium Mall is designed as a self-sustaining environmental, cultural, and artistic collection of indoor/outdoor community space expressed through living gardens, rooftop parks, water features and landscaping that transform the area into an urban oasis.
Connective and communal, Daegu Color Square Stadium Mall transforms the area into more than just a sports-scape, but rather, an active new sequence leading visitors from the World Cup Stadium, to the subsidiary stadium and the future baseball stadium, through a textural public promenade of social activity.
Mosaic Gardens is inspired by the stadium’s iconic curved roof which symbolizes the bringing together of people from around the globe, Mosaic Garden’s exterior walls are covered with unique and colorful mosaic patterns that are a metaphor for the world’s numerous cultures.
This distinct architectural mosaic on the exterior walls is influenced by the region’s prominent textile industry and colorful patchwork fabrics. The new complex rises out of the stadium’s parking lot in a large spiraling form with retail and entertainment space occupying two levels below ground.
A series of landscaped pedestrian walkways and elevated parks create a continuous exterior and interior route linking the entertainment and retail space to the surrounding sports complex, which also contains a second stadium and future baseball stadium.
The center piece of the retail and entertainment complex is a Water Garden, a landscaped sunken outdoor courtyard with a large water feature that offers a new community gathering area for events and activity. The shops, restaurants and entertainment venues are arranged in districts around the Water Garden, with radial ‘alleys’ and glass curtain walls providing natural light and views of the garden space from multiple locations within the underground areas.
The highly anticipated entertainment zone is anchored by a 1,400-seat flexible concert and event venue, along with six cinemas. Interwoven within the project is a wide sample of natural expressions that enhance the organic and park-like qualities to create a green oasis for visitors.
The center’s sustainable features include gray water use for plant irrigation, geothermal heating and cooling and recycled materials for landscaping. Designed to be a highly recognizable landmark destination for Daegu, Korea’s fourth largest city, Mosaic Gardens introduces a new model of sports- related entertainment venues and programming by offering leisure, exhibits, dining and family activities.
Location: Daegu, South Korea Architects: Jerde Area: 50,000 sqm Year: 2011 Client: Color Square Co. Ltd. Photographs: Courtesy of Jerde