Jinju, a historic city renowned for its natural landscapes and annual lantern festival, is planning to develop a new trail path in Mt. Mangjin to enhance tourism. Our architectural proposal aims to establish a cohesive and distinctive design language for the entire pathway, which begins with a pedestrian bridge, continues through plank paths, and concludes at an observatory building atop the peak.
Taking inspiration from a historic flying apparatus invented during the 16th-century, our proposal incorporates the "triangle" as a fundamental geometric motif, both in section and plan. In section, the bottom surface of the triangular section is clad with faceted wooden surfaces, elegantly concealing the underlying structure and creating a visually striking floating effect. In plan, triangular spaces are strategically added and subtracted at the path's corners, serving as functional viewing platforms and communal plazas.
The singular language culminates at the peak observatory, where a floating reverse-triangle viewing deck is featured, providing visitors with an unobstructed 360-degree panoramic view of the city. At night, the observatory resembles a floating lantern, adding a touch of enchantment to the path’s experience.