Heech Studio Revives Museum Slopes with Large-Scale Pinball Playground

In 2021, Seoul-based architecture firm Studio Heech designed a temporary installation in the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture, known as the "Seoul Urban Pinball Machine." This 200-square-meter installation was built in a public space to be part of a competition organized by the Seoul city government.

(Overall view of Seoul Urban Pinball Machine)

Built on the slopes of the museum the installation is designed using recyclable materials, such as wood, bioplastics, and MDF was chosen because of its being environmentally friendly and resistant to decay, as well as other environmentally friendly materials. The slope of the ground on the museum's rooftop is used to revive Seoul's urban context. The project also became an experimental vehicle to create new public spaces and playgrounds on urban slopes.

(High-rise buildings are the backdrop of Seoul Urban Pinball Machine)

(Ball and ball launcher machines equip the pinball playing arena)

Seoul Urban Pinball Machine provides an experience for locals to play large-scale pinball outdoors by utilizing the slope of the ground on the slopes of the museum. Equipping the pinball playground, Studio Heech placed a ball in a pinball launcher machine. The ball will move up and down through an inclined playing field with a graphic design on an arena that visualizes a real pinball machine. Not only playing pinball, but visitors can also play in other arenas, such as the sabangchiki playground which is a traditional Korean game. 

(Pinball playground)

(The winner of the pinball game is determined by the point)

Overall, Studio Heech has successfully created an interactive installation "Seoul Urban Pinball Machine." The playground on the slopes of this museum has become a place to create social interaction in the city of Seoul by inviting local residents to play pinball, sabangchiki, throw a ball or just sit on a garden chair while looking at the view of buildings in the surrounding environment.

 (Anyone can visit the Seoul Urban Pinball Machine installation indefinitely)

(Sabangchiki playground)

The Seoul Urban Pinball Machine is described as a staging stage with visitors participating in the performance. Through the movements of visitors, walking, running, dancing, playing, and their way to rest has become a fun public space show. 

(View of Seoul Urban Pinball Machine at night)