1999-2000 SEOUL - Learning From The City
View of downtown Seoul
Aerial view of river
Sectional perspective illustrating the boulevard type street
Introduction
Seoul, as a mega-city of over 10 million has emerged as a major technological and economic power in recent times. The city is the product of the second half of the twentieth century because most of it has been built since the 1950's. This has resulted in a modernist city with layers of hidden history brought to the surface by some of its visible remnants. It overwhelms. The city was largely demolished in the civil war but an extraordinary amount of housing has been built in the past three decades with new highways and office buildings. Due to its unplanned and haphazard growth, Seoul faces some serious environmental problems.
The study was divided into three stages, which involved analysis, design proposal and evaluation. The design goal aimed to create an environment both livable and sustainable. Five design responses were considered while exploring possibilities in respect of nodes, streets, housing, rivers and new towns. The design proposals followed a radical approach which looked at significant changes, and a marginal approach which looked at minor improvements.
Seoul's Nodes - Design Approach
Two main areas were identified to represent Seoul's nodes: downtown Seoul which represents the old CBD and Kangnam Center which represents the new CBD-Boulevard type node. Two approaches were taken in the design of Seoul's centres; Marginal and Radical.
The design concepts generated in the radical approach were based on the following assumptions:
- A generous financing program sponsored by the government.
- A strong political will to create an internationally identifiable image for Seoul through integration of its past with its present.
The design approach then determined and incorporated:
- Downtown Seoul
- Boulevard Type Node
- Design Policies
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