”Lockup all your love, go and throw away the key”
-Carrie Underwood
Love is the essence of the human race. It is something that makes you a human. There are many architectures that became the symbol of love ranging from the Taj Mahal to the Eiffel Tower. When you move to Central Seoul, South Korea, you can spot a breathtaking view. A tower with its pointy ramrod body and donut-shaped deck in the midriff, Namsan tower most popularly known as” N “Seoul Tower which is renowned as the national landmark for its cityscape views. Namsan Tower is a communication tower. It is the second-largest building in Seoul with a height that amounts to 236 meters and was opened to the public in 1980. Namsan Tower is South Korea’s first radio wave tower which was built in 1971.
It is quite curious to see how that broad top part is managed to be balanced in the slender stem-like architecture on top of a steep mountain. There arises the excellence of architecture. Namsan Mountain is the most recognized landmark of Seoul. The peak has been an eye-catching backdrop to Seoul city from ancient times. The Mountain is crowned by the iconic N Seoul Tower today. It is most outlined by the wall of stone constructed in the Joseon era. Visitors can reach N tower either by walking or through the cable car. Namsan tower is divided into three main parts, the N lobby, N plaza, and the N tower. N Grills is a restaurant that sits at the top of a tower which is a revolving restaurant. The popular Digital Observatory is located on the third floor. It gives a bird-eye view of Seoul overall. The construction of Namsan Tower began in 1969 and began broadcasting in 1971. The tower rises approximately 1574 feet above sea level. The overall cost of construction was 2.5 million USD, designed by architects at jang jong ryul . Seoul Tower had its name changed to N Seoul Tower in 2005 whereas N stands for new, namsan, and nature. The roof terrace of namsan is a spacious wooden viewing deck made finely with all the beauty of love. It has been the location for various dramas and movies. Namsan tower depicts the eternal beauty of love.
It is a place where the air smells love. N Seoul Tower is most renowned for the ‘padlocks of love. There are about 40 attractions decorated with the padlocks of love across the world, N tower is one among them. The human race is always craving to love and to be loved. N tower is a popular date spot for couples, families to visit and head towards the love lock believing that their love will last forever. It is a place where we can feel the weight and importance of love and how humans are bonded together. Foreigners rush to lock their love in Namsan every year. In a poll, it is viewed that 16 percent of foreigners will love to hang padlocks on the tower fence when they come to Seoul. Another attraction that strikes me is the V-shaped chairs, popularly known as heart chairs. The chair is bent with its middle to make the people even closer. The tower reveals myriads of messages to be locked in love. It shows the significance of love in every person.
Namsan Tower not only stands for love but also acts as an indicator of atmospheric conditions in Seoul. Seoul tower lights up the city with tower lights. Seoul city uses the tower lights to indicate the levels of pollution in the air so that it can quickly reach the public. Namsan Tower was built decades ago, not remaining there as a solid crust of concrete. Every single day it is serving the public by alerting them when to wear masks and when to be cautious when breathing the air. The color of the tower is blue on clear days and red when the rate of air pollution is high or when micro dust warning has been issued. When the tower is red, the public refrains from outdoor activities. The colors are blue (for good), green (for fair), Yellow (for bad), and red (for extremely bad).
In my opinion, great architecture is not something complex in its structure, but the feel, information, and emotions it imparts for the wellbeing of humans and nature. Namsan tower is a symbol of love, affection, and togetherness. It will always adorn Seoul city with its extreme beauty.
By JASMIN S R
All About N Seoul Tower- well done, keep it up