concrete utopia transforms discarded construction pipes into playground in south korea

discarded concrete pipes turn into public pavilion in Busan

Concrete Utopia by designer Hyunje Joo reconfigures discarded concrete pipes into an open-ended public pavilion at the Museum of Contemporary Art Busan in South Korea. The project examines the environmental implications of concrete, one of the most widely used and carbon-intensive construction materials, and proposes reuse as a spatial and conceptual strategy.

Concrete, second only to water in global consumption, generates significant greenhouse gas emissions during production. In response to the climate crisis and the material dominance of contemporary cities, the project addresses the condition of the ‘concrete city’ through the adaptive reuse of abandoned infrastructure. Rather than introducing new materials, the installation reclaims discarded concrete pipes found in urban environments and reorganizes them into inhabitable play structures.

Pipes of varying diameters are assembled into a flexible configuration that accommodates multiple forms of occupation. The arrangement allows for climbing, sitting, circulation, and gathering, transforming industrial components into spatial devices. By retaining the original identity of the pipes while altering their function, the project shifts perception from infrastructure to architecture.

all images by Hyunje Joo

reclaimed industrial materials compose Concrete Utopia

Conceived as a micro-scale urban environment, Concrete Utopia operates as both pavilion and metaphor. Its open-ended composition avoids fixed hierarchy, enabling visitors to navigate and interpret the space in different ways. The repetitive circular geometries reference standardized construction systems while simultaneously disrupting their original purpose.

Through direct engagement with reused concrete elements, the project by designer Hyunje Joo frames urban resilience as a matter of material reconsideration and spatial reorganization. By extending the lifecycle of construction waste, Concrete Utopia positions reuse not only as an environmental strategy but also as a means of rethinking how cities are built and inhabited.

Concrete Utopia reassembles discarded concrete pipes into a public pavilion at the Museum of Contemporary Art

the installation reuses abandoned infrastructure instead of introducing newly manufactured materials

varying pipe diameters generate a layered and inhabitable spatial composition

circular geometries define the pavilion’s spatial identity

the pipes are arranged to support climbing, sitting, and gathering

reclaimed pipes form a flexible configuration open to multiple uses

the pavilion operates as a micro-scale interpretation of the concrete city

the installation encourages physical engagement with reclaimed materials

the structures retain the raw texture and weight of concrete

open-ended arrangements avoid fixed hierarchy or prescribed routes

spatial reorganization extends the lifecycle of construction waste

project info:

name: Concrete Utopia
designer: Hyunje Joo | @hyunjejoo

location: Museum of Contemporary Art Busan, South Korea

client: Museum of Contemporary Art Busan | @moca_busan

photographer: Hyunje Joo

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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