Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project

 

Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project

Location: Seoul, South Korea

Completion: 2005

The Cheonggyecheon Stream, which runs through the heart of Seoul, was covered up with a four-lane highway in the 1960s. This new highway covered up the waterway which once was used as a source of drinking water and a means of transportation. As with most cities, the needs of the people outweighed the preservation of the natural environment.

With the restoration project, many benefits were seen. There was an impact on the environment, it improved the water quality and encouraged the return of many species of aquatic life, and with the restoration, it also helped to mitigate the urban heat island effect. 

A lot of cities are not as lucky as Seoul, South Korea, to have a body of water run directly through it, but a lot of cities would also have not torn down a highway that plays a major role in alleviating dense traffic from the city center. This creates an area of more peaceful, separated recreation, while not having to travel far to find it. Embracing the waterway is a massive move that helps to define the city. 

This restoration also has an economic benefit to the city. This is a major tourist attraction that draws visitors from around the world.

By putting nature first there are so many indirect benefits. This created a space for people to come and gather and enjoy a beautiful piece of nature right in the heart of the city.