Mapo-gu Gongdeok Ogori Traffic Island Transformation? ... 'Healing Garden' Capturing Seasonal and Time Changes

Old traffic island blocked by trees transformed into ecological water garden using water, moss, and rocks... Frost moss with high fine dust reduction effect and shrubs planted openly to help drivers' visibility

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) has renovated the aging traffic island greenery at Gongdeok Five-way Intersection (around Gongdeok-dong 438-5) into a new type of water garden where visitors can experience the changes of seasons and time.

The water space at the Gongdeok Five-way Intersection roundabout, located in the heart of Seoul's transportation network, had been out of operation due to outdated water facilities, with the fountain stopped and poorly growing trees densely planted along the outer edges of the green area, detracting from the urban landscape.

In response, the district secured 500 million KRW in city funds linked to Seoul's "Eco-friendly Water Space Creation Project" to prevent safety accidents through the renovation of the aging water facilities and to create a pleasant resting area, beginning full-scale refurbishment in September last year.

Inspired by the origin of the name "Gongdeok-dong," which means a large hill or a large well, the project adopted the theme of an "ecological garden using water, moss, and rocks," transforming the site into a water garden that reflects the old Gongdeok by creating a small waterfall flowing from a large well to a hill stream.

To reflect the current Gongdeok, filled with a forest of buildings, a 30-meter-wide mirror fountain was installed at the center of the green area, with a small hillside waterfall in front of the fountain to express the old appearance of Gongdeok. This design allows visitors to feel the changes over time from Gongdeok's past to its present.

Additionally, around the fountain, 6,600 plants of 16 species of grasses and flowers that can create various seasonal landscapes were planted, along with frost moss, shrubs, and trees that are sun-resistant and produce high amounts of oxygen, helping to reduce fine dust. These were planted in an open manner to improve drivers' visibility compared to the previous tree-blocked intersection.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, "The renovated Gongdeok Five-way Intersection traffic island will serve as an urban healing garden where people can enjoy the changing views of Gongdeok through the seasons and time. Although it is a quickly passing roundabout, I hope people can find comfort in the forest-like atmosphere, even if only for a moment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.