Ever Been to a Skygarden?

Until this morning if anyone had asked me, “Have you ever been to a skygarden?" the answer would have been a quizzical, “Don’t think so," followed by, “What’s a skygarden?"

Now I know.

Today, as I walked around downtown Seoul on a crisp, clear, October morning, I experienced Seoul’s new - it opened just a few months ago - Seoullo 7017, an elevated garden, urban nursery, and park.

The vehicle overpass, built to alleviate Seoul’s burgeoning traffic problems in the 1970’s, was recently transformed into a walkway where tourists hoping to take the perfect picture, families wanting to enjoy time with their children, or office workers needing a respite from their boss can get a break from the realities of big city life, if even for a brief 30 minutes.

Views from the walkway are spectacular. The iconic Seoul Station, built in the 1920’s by the Japanese during their occupation of Korea, is one of the highlights (Photo credit: Ned Forney)

The creative and environmentally friendly path is a refreshing reminder of how city governments around the world are trying to improve the quality of life for their citizens. It's similar to New York City’s High Line, an elevated freight rail line converted into a park that runs through Manhattan’s West Side.

Designed by MVRDV, an innovative, award-winning Dutch architectural firm, Seoullo 7017 (it's name comes from the year the vehicle overpass was built and the year it became a pedestrian park) "preserves history and revitalizes underdeveloped areas of the city,” according to a ROK government website.

I agree. With over 600 tree pots, 24,000 plants, brilliant colors, and earthy smells, the “plant village,” as the MVRDV calls it, set amongst a panorama of high-rises and congested roads, is literally a breath of fresh air.

Take a look . . .