Be-Fore reactivates an abandoned sewage treatment plant
Be-Fore is a renovation project by A.CO.LAB Architects that reactivates the dormant areas of the Sihwa Industrial Complex Wastewater Treatment Plant in South Korea introducing minimal architectural interventions while maintaining the industrial character and historical traces of the space. Rather than introducing predetermined programs or extensive new facilities, the project focuses on preserving the existing atmosphere of the former cleaning infrastructure and creating conditions for various activities to take place within the existing spatial framework.
Originally designed as a water-themed park by Siheung-si for nearby residents, the site revealed a different potential through existing structures, scale and industrial remnants. The design approach avoids turning the derelict facility into a new image-driven destination, instead allowing its original spatial qualities, including rough surfaces, irregular forms and large-scale infrastructure, to remain visible and sustainable.
The intervention is based on the principle of adding only the necessary elements to support new uses while maintaining the existing identity of the site. The original proposal, which focused on ten condensing tanks, was reduced to five, allowing the project to focus on revealing the structure and organization of the former sewage treatment system. By exposing previously hidden civil engineering elements and reconnecting different areas of the site, the renovation creates an open sequence through which visitors can experience the original water treatment facilities.
all images courtesy of A.CO.LAB Architects
A.CO.LAB converts an unused facility into a new shared space
All newly introduced materials were selected by A.CO.LAB Architects Studio for lightness, accessibility and ease of installation and removal. Common building materials such as timber frames, checkered steel plates, aluminum and acrylic panels were used to create temporary architectural elements without competing with existing structures. A circular staircase, patio columns, canopies, inspection decks, canopy and skylights were designed as simple additions that support movement and occupancy while maintaining the industrial character of the space.
The reduced scale of intervention also allowed the project to maintain the spatial qualities of the site while working with a limited construction budget. Rather than relying on permanent installations or complex architectural systems, Be-Fore uses minimal gestures and readily available materials to create new relationships between people and the abandoned industrial landscape.
Through the contrast between the former sewage treatment infrastructure and the light modern additions, the project explores how architecture can create a sense of shared experience in an existing space. The combination of raw industrial surfaces, translucent materials and simple structural elements transforms the space into a space where traces of the past coexist with new forms of collective use.
project information:
name: Before
architect: A.CO.LAB Architects | @a.co.lab
main architects: Isak Chung, Jinpyo Hong
location: Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
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edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom
