Finding the Puzzle Piece to Complete the Design
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Busan Port North Port Marina Design Team Discussion: Mid-Term Design
Analysis of the current (proposed) design plan for Busan Port North Port Marina revealed a weakness: the absence of specialized programs makes it difficult to address operational challenges. This suggests the need to introduce community-oriented programs to enhance accessibility for Busan citizens, foster community formation based on marine leisure culture, and stimulate utilization.
Date and Time: August 9, 2023, 14:15 – 15:15
Participants: Jaewan Park , Jihye Chun, Jeongtaek Oh , Gayoung Oh
Facilitator: Hyein Zhang
1. Additional Programs
2. Overseas Marina Field Trips and Analysis
3. Yacht Pavilion Plan
4. Model Construction Process
5. 52-Hour Workweek System: Working Together to Support Each Other
6. Closing Remarks
Additional Programs
Jihye Chun
After winning the schematic design phase and diving into the design development phase, the team was newly formed. The key players at this time were (Oh) Jeongtaek, (Oh) Gayoung, and (Kim) Youngbin, with Director (Kim) Hyunsam also joining us. Typically, a design competition is considered the schematic design (SD) phase. So, we happily opened the lid thinking, ‘The SD package is mostly complete, so we can proceed directly to the design development (DD) phase.’ But then… the client announced they wanted to add new programs. What exactly would be added was undecided, and we also had to assess the feasibility of these additional programs, effectively turning it into a feasibility study.
Hyein Zhang
Did the team also figure out which programs to install?
Jihye Chun
The client first provided three requirements: survival swimming pool, skin scuba, and indoor surfing facility. We proceeded with the first two, excluding the indoor surfing facility. Since public design competitions contract based on construction costs, any program changes require justification for the additional expense compared to the original scope. We had to prepare two design alternatives incorporating the added programs and recalculate the estimated costs for each.
Jaewan Park
In other words, we had to tackle it on a flat plane first, since it was uncertain whether the program proposal would ultimately be adopted. Mr. Jeongtaek worked very hard drafting these alternatives. We designed it by placing the swimming pool and scuba diving pool behind the stacked land-based facilities to minimize the building footprint, right?
Jeongtaek Oh
Yes. That’s when we stacked the swimming pool and scuba pool vertically. Personally, I actually welcomed the addition of the program. Honestly, while working on the project, I was trying to find enjoyment and fulfillment for myself. When I was asked to add the program, I thought, ‘This is my chance.’ Since it involved creating facilities that weren’t in the original design from scratch, I paid extra attention to the work. And because the period for calculating estimates based on alternatives overlapped with the overseas research trip, I worked with Ji-hye to adjust the estimates, contacting her about every other day.
Jihye Chun
Since our time zones are completely opposite (laughs), we worked like this: they’d send us the work done in the afternoon at their office, and we’d review it in the morning and provide feedback. We needed to gather estimates not just for architecture, but also for other fields like structural engineering and facilities. Mr. Jeongtaek took charge of coordinating that entire process for us.
Overseas Marina Field Trips and Analysis
Hyein Zhang
Looking at the materials, the overseas field trip seems to have been quite large in scale.
Jihye Chun
The clients were accompanied by representatives from Junglim Architecture, ING, and the Korea Port Technology Institute. From BPA, the Director in charge of the marina project, the Design Management Supervisor, and the Marina Operations Manager joined us. Over 9 nights and 10 days, including travel time, we circumnavigated half the globe to visit 11 marinas. At each site, we were escorted by mooring facility managers, marina operations staff, and even the marina chairman himself. This made us keenly aware of the diverse entities and roles involved in marina operations.
Hyein Zhang
What did you intend to investigate?
Jihye Chun
The interview questionnaire was prepared around two main axes: marina facility design and operational strategy. Regarding facility design, we primarily handled the preliminary research ourselves, while for operations, the BPA representative would conduct the investigation directly during the site visit.
Jeongtaek Oh
Most of the 11 marinas we visited were relatively unknown. Looking them up on Google Earth, you’d find some tucked away in remote villages. The review photos were taken and uploaded by locals themselves, which was both surprising—seeing how they made such small marinas work—and surprisingly relatable.
Jihye Chun
The two smallest ones, right? So the 11 sites we visited weren’t actually curated solely from highly renowned facilities. Some were places we got from people familiar with the marina when we asked, ‘Anywhere is fine, just tell us the name.’
Jaewan Park
And if I hadn’t gone there myself, the report wouldn’t have had any substance.
Hyein Zhang
As you mentioned, both a preliminary report and a final report have been prepared. When it comes to analysis, it should start with establishing a framework and produce objectively convincing figures or results. How did you go about preparing it?
Jeongtaek Oh
The preliminary report template was created by referencing the ‘Seoul Land Resource Utilization Card’ project, which the Development Planning Division participated in as a research service. It was created during the site survey phase, just like that one, and it also included evaluation items. Since we needed an ‘analysis report’ but didn’t know how to proceed, we ended up finding something usable from past experiences.
Jihye Chun
So it differed from the typical framework for architectural field reports. There were considerations like the scope of maritime and water areas, and the ratio of above-water facilities to maritime infrastructure. There’s an anecdote: at the time, an advertisement for a tire company featured a hexagonal radar chart. It explained the strengths or balance points for each tire. We incorporated that chart into the report.
Hyein Zhang
You’ve found inspiration, haven’t you?
Jihye Chun
These six factors are quite interesting. They are fundamental elements required for marina design, yet they also serve as valuable benchmarks to actively consider for our site’s specific circumstances. Since the North Port Marina is close to Busan Station, we needed to assess its accessibility. And for the public to enjoy a marina handling high-value vessels and yachts, we also needed to evaluate its openness in terms of usage. We were considering specialized programs like survival swimming pools and scuba diving pools, so we also wanted to investigate whether other marinas offered such value-added facilities and, if so, how they operated them. Beyond that, we used criteria like the scale of basic facilities, the convenience of functional facilities, and the variety of support facilities like clubhouses, restaurants, and lodging. We created these indicators and assigned our own scores based on them.
Gayoung Oh
I was skeptical even while drawing up the charts. This kind of analysis isn’t commonly used in architecture, you know. I worried that if the data from surveying 11 sites didn’t sufficiently support the design proposal’s validity, what then?
Jeongtaek Oh
Before creating this chart, both Gayoung and I wondered, ‘Will this work? What will come out of it?’ But the moment we finished writing it,
Gayoung Oh, Jeongtaek Oh
(At the same time) Sorting by size should do the trick. This should work.
Jihye Chun
After visiting and gathering information, I found it incredibly interesting. Listing them by facility size, the similarities between the smallest Dutch marina (WSV DE Spiegel) and the largest Monaco marina (Yacht Club de Monaco) stood out. Both have highly competitive specialized programs and offer exceptional functional facilities and convenience. What stood out most, however, was how both marinas consistently emphasized the same concept when describing their specialized programs: ‘A marina deeply involved in life, yacht culture as an integral part of life.’
박재완
WSV DE Spiegel in the Netherlands is a fully community-integrated marina. As a small, publicly operated marina, it played a role in strengthening the local community through various activities like yacht-based education and festivals. Before the interview started, the owner of the village billiards hall told us to sit down and have a drink first—it felt like receiving the warm welcome of a down-to-earth farmer. (Laughter) The owner suggested we aim for a ‘marina suited to the region’. Meanwhile, at Monaco’s Yacht Club de Monaco, a resort-style marina handling ultra-luxury vessels, I interviewed the club president. He described a marina as a “lieu de vie” – a ‘place of life’. “A marina that merely accommodates boats and ships is disconnected from life. As a world-class marina, our top priority is providing canoes and yachts to local residents and children.” When I asked if they also held community-related meetings, he emphasized, “Without that, it’s not a marina.”
Jihye Chun
Compiling the preliminary analysis materials and the topics raised during the site visit revealed points of convergence from entirely different perspectives and positions. Thanks to the thorough research by Ms. Gayoung and Mr. Jung-taek, it became much easier to reach a conclusion later on.
Gayoung Oh
Through overseas field research, we concluded that ‘lifestyle marinas, regardless of scale, are closely tied to and vital for citizens’ daily lives in their respective regions.‘ Applying this analysis to the North Port Marina led us to the conclusion that ‘introducing programs accessible to citizens is necessary.’ Consequently, we were able to seamlessly integrate the survival swimming pool and scuba diving pool—programs we had been considering as additions—into the design plan. The moment the conclusion clicked into place felt incredibly fascinating and satisfying.
Jaewan Park
It was a relief that the report addressed the feasibility of introducing additional programs. When advancing a project, objective analysis and logic must appropriately support certain aspects. During the initial design phase, the figure “1% of the coastline” played a key role, while field survey reports were crucial in the intermediate design phase. It felt reassuring.
Jihye Chun
This is truly thanks to the sharp analysis of Mr. Jeongtaek and Ms. Gayoung, which clearly hit the mark.
Yacht Pavilion Plan
Jaewan Park
Gayoung, tell me about the waterfront cafe design we included in the plan.
Gayoung Oh
Ms. Ji-hye asked me to plan a waterside cafe in a pavilion style, so I took it on. Back then, I was just a greenhorn rookie, so I took it on thinking I’d give it a shot, but I really couldn’t articulate my ideas. Ms. Ji-hye patiently taught me, “When persuading others with a plan, you need to explain the program analysis and the rationale behind the plan.” That night, my young heart couldn’t sleep. (Embarrassed laugh) I gathered my resolve, meticulously studied the yacht training curriculum, and at the next meeting, I was able to explain the spaces needed for yacht training and methodically outline the design requirements. After that, Jaewan-nim sketched out a design draft for us, and I remember it was refined into a streamlined mass.
Jihye Chun
I thought the riverside cafe site was flat ground, but it turned out to be a plot with a subtle level difference. When viewed from the Opera House across the way, the cafe should appear at a lower eye level. I only realized later that the friend who initially handled the site model must have struggled to match that level difference. When I showed it to Gayoung, she insisted we remake it, so we rebuilt that section’s contour from scratch. We redid everything, starting from the level plan.
Jeongtaek Oh
That’s right. We cut out just that part from the entire model and inserted the new section Ms. Gayoung created.
Jaewan Park
We developed the design to minimize the height of the pavilion’s green roof so it would be visible from the Opera House, ensuring it wouldn’t detract from the Opera House’s landscape. We intentionally designed the pavilion’s form itself to be clearly visible from anywhere. Unfortunately, upon arriving at the site, exhaust stacks were erected nearby, which was disappointing.
Gayoung Oh
Still, I liked and found it interesting that this core plot of land, where the waterfront cafe is being built, was included within our design scope. While planning the marina, I considered the view of the Opera House from the marina, but conversely, one could also imagine the view of the marina from the Opera House. This waterfront cafe is close to the Opera House, but because it exists as a pair sharing the same vocabulary as the marina, I think it will reveal a distinct presence of its own. Planning it on a separate, albeit small, plot with this in mind is a different matter altogether. I consider it the place where you can view the marina from its most splendid vantage point.
The Yacht Pavilion was designed and planned to connect the Marina Clubhouse building and the Opera House through its design and program.
Model Construction Process
Hyein Zhang
Another indispensable element in the project is the model. When was it produced during the intermediate design phase?
Gayoung Oh
We made many models for study purposes throughout the process, and the final model was created while preparing for the mid-term report. At the time, Design Division 1 was required to make models no matter what, and especially the teams led by Dong-gwan (Kim) and Jae-wan were famous for their models. (laughs)
Jaewan Park
Nowadays, the company doesn’t really encourage making models anymore. The last model was created by Ms. Gayoung here and Mr. Kim Bu-bin, who has since left the company. While we’ve made countless models over the years, this was one of the rare moments where we truly felt the heartfelt reason for making it. It was the first time we truly grasped just how large the building was. More than the details, we finally realized the character we needed to give the space and the necessary detailed plans were missing. It was a model that played a crucial role.
Jihye Chun
Before production, we set the scale, right? Since our building is long sideways, I requested it be a bit larger if possible. Even if produced on A1 paper size, it’s 594×841mm,
Gayoung Oh
But then the building was cut in half.
Jihye Chun
So it ended up being almost A0 size. When Gayoung unfolded the CAD screen… I gasped inwardly but feigned composure, saying, “Yeah. Gayoung. Great. Let’s go with this.” (Everyone laughs) The scale meant significant weight, and we didn’t have a suitable board to secure the model. Looking around, we found one conference table measuring 900×1800mm. I asked Mr. Jeon Sang-woo, then Head of Design Division 1, “We can spare one table, right?” for permission. Jung-taek brought a screwdriver and unscrewed the table’s bolts one by one.
Jaewan Park
The model was far too heavy to build the base with wood as usual. We just covered the table with colored paper and stuck it on.
Jihye Chun
In terms of detail level alone, we didn’t actually need to make the intermediate report model this elaborate. However, we needed a study to enhance the drawings’ completeness while experiencing the spatial sense firsthand, and to do that, we ended up making it so the interior could be fully inspected. Gayoung is especially good at understanding the entire space and building models, so she was a huge help.
Jaewan Park
The model could be assembled and disassembled like opening and closing a lid. Achieving that required planning how to divide the building horizontally by floor, and since we had to apply interior finishes too, the work difficulty increased significantly.
Gayoung Oh
Seeing it in 3D modeling is different from physically experiencing the space with your own eyes. With a finished model, people usually just glance at the exterior, but as the creator, you feel the spatial sense down to the smallest details. That’s the part I find fun about model-making.
Jeongtaek Oh
That’s what makes it worthwhile. There’s an issue of El Croquis featuring architect Álvaro Siza where the cover prominently displays a photo of the model for the sports center he built in Panticosa, Spain. Back then, I thought, ‘Why go to such lengths with a model?’ But I realized it was a declaration of how deeply he had pondered the design.
The 52-Hour Workweek, Working Together to Support Each Other
Jeongtaek Oh
And I always say this with confidence: we achieved all this while still adhering to the 52-hour workweek.
Jihye Chun
Did you stick to it?
Jeongtaek Oh
Yes. I think we adhered to it about 98% of the time. And I want to place a high value on that.
Jaewan Park
Everyone worked intensely.
Gayoung Oh
At that time, the team members’ schedule management was exceptionally well-organized. The model production period was nearly a month, and there was even a separate schedule dedicated solely to that task. On an A3-sized printed schedule, Jaewan checked daily progress: determining the model size, testing the mockup the next day, preparing items needed for laser cutting in advance, and so on. “How far did you get today? Did you finish the first floor?” (Everyone laughs) It was possible because he managed the model production with that level of meticulousness.
Jaewan Park
The larger the model, the more likely it is to miss the deadline if you’re not careful.
Jihye Chun
Including that, I felt a deep commitment from all team members to ‘get it done well within the timeframe.’ I wondered when these guys even went to the bathroom, since they spent most of their time sitting and working.
Gayoung Oh
Then someone would sneak up and cut the pillar for you before leaving. (Laughter) Was it Jung-taek? He’d cut the pillar with a saw and even sand it down.
Jihye Chun
That’s right, he’d cut it for us as he came and went. (Laughter)
Jeongtaek Oh
That’s what was so nice about it. If anyone finished their day’s work a little early, they’d seem to look around. If they saw a busy friend, they’d go over like this, pretending to help while chatting and maybe even getting in the way a little. (Laughter)
Closing Remarks
Hyein Zhang
As we wrap up, let’s hear from our team members. Gayoung, please go first.
Gayoung Oh
I joined the project midway through the design phase, taking over from Ki-ryong. We were a team whose chemistry was so strong, you’d want to call us the ‘Avengers’. Both Youngbin and Jeongtaek were incredibly skilled, which was a bit daunting, but I approached my role with the mindset of doing my absolute best within what I could handle. Modeling was one of those areas. Even as an undergraduate, I loved making models and had developed my own methods for doing it well, so I think that skill helped the team.
Jihye Chun
Gayoung was in her second year back then, right? Our building is a complex facility that’s no walk in the park, but even as a junior member, she understood and handled the challenging program and building requirements exceptionally well. She contributed broadly, not just with models, but also with pavilion planning and field report writing. She was a key player who truly enriched the project’s execution.
Jeongtaek Oh
I was a new hire in 2014, so this was around my fourth year. I was assigned to handle the preliminary design floor plans for the Marina Project for the first time, and the program was incredibly diverse. Because of that, there were even types of drawings I hadn’t encountered before. We needed one Jeongtaek Oh for drawing the hotel, one for the restaurants, and one for the banquet hall… The team’s goal back then was to reach a level where we could create detailed drawings directly from the intermediate drawings. I think we literally crammed every piece of information we could onto those drawings. I never voiced it, but it was a process filled with unfamiliar aspects of new work and tasks beyond my capabilities. Even so, I often studied on my own to calmly handle the work well. It was fun learning about various programs, but I wonder if I got too absorbed in the work itself. Looking back, I regret not paying more attention to the people around me. If I had been more capable, I could have had more fun conversations with team members like Gayoung or the project managers. I feel strongly that I didn’t manage those aspects well enough.
Gayoung Oh
Still, Jung-taek was our team’s mood maker. He answered all our questions, but instead of just telling us the answers, he patiently explained everything step by step, starting with why we needed to draw that particular blueprint. We all learned so much from Jung-taek, and that’s why we were able to plan this project to this extent.
Jeongtaek Oh
Hmm, really? (laughs)
Jihye Chun
You teach so well. Someday you’ll meet students like Gayoung at partner firms. (laughs)