The ‘Forest Corridor’ proposal has won one of the 2nd prizes (Professional Category) in the Open International Competition for Noise Barrier/Enclosure organized by the Hong Kong Government. Designed by BREAD Studio, the project gives an alternative insight to the noise mitigation structure design in the dense urban environment of the city. More images and architects’ description after the break.
With proximity to public space and residential units, this typical highway structure has 3 distinct conditions needing to be considered. 1: View down from the buildings: People from the residential tower are disturbed by not only noise but also lights from the highway. The climber plants on the barrier hide the barrier and highway. It also block off substantial portion of the vehicles lights and highway lights. 2: View up from the park: People from the park would see the concrete underside of the highway. The proposal extends the greening from the barrier to the park. Climbing plants from the pots not only grow up to the barrier but also hang down to the park. 3: View of the drivers: The use of climbers creates a more transparent greening effect on the barrier. The drivers could still have view thought the barrier to the surroundings. Compared to solid greening panel or merely transparent panels, this approach reduces the feeling of being inside a confined tunnel.
