Landscape
Queen Huh Memorial
The landscape design of the Queen Huh Memorial in Ayodhya, crafted by Node Urban Lab, thoughtfully blends Indo-Korean cultural symbolism with spatial storytelling. Anchored by two distinct pavilions—the Indian-style Queen’s Pavilion and the traditional Korean King’s Pavilion—the site narrates Queen Huh’s legendary journey from Ayodhya to Korea.
Carefully curated landscape that blends cultural storytelling, symbolic architecture, and landscape design to celebrate the legacy of Queen Huh—a legendary Korean queen believed to have originated from Ayodhya. It merges storytelling, symbolism, and spatial planning to celebrate the legendary ties between India and Korea through Queen Huh’s story.
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Client
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
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Architectural Description
Key features include a timeless bridge symbolizing connection across time and geography, a memorial plaza, water features with fountains, and elements like the Golden Egg and Two Fishes, reflecting mythological themes. The design employs curved pathways, mounded lawns, and amphitheatre-style seating, creating an inviting and ceremonial experience. Natural materials, cultural motifs, and fluid circulation patterns unify the space, making it both a landscape of memory and a place of gathering.
Thematic Zoning and Flow
- The site is narratively structured to guide visitors through distinct zones, each telling a part of Queen Huh’s story—from Ayodhya to Mangan.
- The path flow is fluid and meandering, mimicking a journey and reinforcing the theme of Queen Huh's voyage.
Water Features
- The Water Feature with Fountains (1) is a key landscape highlight, referencing the tale that Queen Huh carried a mystical stone from Ayodhya that calmed the seas.
- It serves as both a symbolic and experiential element, offering soothing visuals and sound that enhance the sensory experience.
Timeless Bridge
- The bridge (8) spans the water feature and acts as a physical and metaphorical connector between cultures and time periods.
- Its design merges with the natural contours and aquatic elements, reinforcing the landscape’s narrative cohesion.
Garden Area & Mounds
- A broad, open green lawn (7) with subtle mounds acts as a multipurpose congregational space—ideal for mass gatherings, events, and ceremonies.
- The mounds break the monotony of the flat terrain, adding visual interest and spatial layering to the landscape.
King’s Pavilion (Foreground)
- The King’s Pavilion, with its iconic traditional Korean-style pagoda roof, sits on a raised stone platform within a formal square enclosure.
- The surrounding manicured lawn and stone paving contrast with the wooden structure, making it a focal point while symbolizing Korean heritage.
- The clean lines and stone boundary give it a sacred, temple-like character, indicating reverence and cultural preservation.
Organic Pathways and Eyed-Shape Gardens
- Meandering curved walkways organically cut through the lawn, guiding visitors across various narrative elements.
- Notably, fish- or eye-shaped planters/gardens enhance the symbolic richness—perhaps referencing the legend of the two fishes as seen in the design concept.
Amphitheatre
- A circular amphitheatre is carved into the landscape with red-toned stepped seating, providing a space for cultural performances or gatherings.
- The curvature continues the design language of the bridge and paths, reinforcing visual continuity across the landscape.
Strategic Open Lawn and Softscape
- Expansive green lawns balance the harder built elements, creating breathing spaces that allow for congregation and reflection.
- The minimalistic planting ensures unobstructed views while enhancing serenity and openness in the overall experience.
Traditional Indian Pavilion (Chhatri Style)
Minimalist Softscape
The white stone pavilion is modeled in the traditional Indian “Chhatri” architectural style, often used in royal memorials.
Richly carved pillars and domed roofing highlight symbolic heritage, anchoring Queen Huh’s birthplace in Ayodhya.
The use of minimal planting and small shrubs around the pavilion enhances its visibility and preserves the emphasis on built form.
This approach reflects a zen-like simplicity, resonating with traditional Korean landscaping values—balance, clarity, and calm.
Paved Courtyard and Stepped Entry
Contrast of Materials and Texture
The foreground showcases a cleanly paved stone courtyard, creating an approach path that fosters ritualistic movement toward the pavilion.
A simple three-step entry marks the transition from the outer garden to the sanctified inner pavilion.
The contrast between the warm timber structure of the pavilion and the cool stone base and walls adds visual depth and clarity.
This juxtaposition of materials creates cultural contrast, reflecting the Indo-Korean theme at the core of the memorial.
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