KCAP

Regeneration Heritage Urban Industry

Sustainable mixed-use urban redevelopment with preservation of historical structures

The redevelopment project won in 2017 aims to transform Sewoon District no. 4 in Seoul, Korea, into a sustainable mixed-use area including offices, retail, and urban industry. The design proposes a dynamic multi-dimensional district that enhances the urban quality and provides harmonic integration with the unique historical context.

Sewoon District no. 4 in Seoul, Korea is an important historical centre which encompasses diverse historical layers. It has played an essential role as an urban industrial area for a long time.&...

Location
  • Seoul, Korea
Client
  • Seoul Housing Communities Corporation
Year
  • 2016 - Ongoing
Status
  • Ongoing
Program
  • 280.000 m2 A mixed program including housing, offices, retail, hotels, culture and education
Disciplines
  • Architecture
  • Urban Design
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Research & Development
Collaborators
  • Junglim Architecture, SAAI Architects
  • Structure Engineering
  • Duksung Alpha ENG
  • Soltos Landscape Architecture
  • Jungdo Engineering
  • ENC Technology
  • Vision City Research
  • Kunwon Engineering
Awards
  • Competition 1st prize
Publications

  • The proposal focusses on a subtle integration of the building mass in the surrounding context, good modulation, and accessibility to create flexible combinations of units. It fosters an active connection to the preexistence. So it responds to future demands and generates lasting place-making by preserving historic traces and buildings, like the neighbouring mixed-use complex Sewoon Sangga (Arcade), a testimonial of modern Korean architecture by prominent architect Kim Swoo-geun, built between 1967-1972. 

    The design strategies include the re-creation of 'the Seoul grid' deriving from the existing street network as a unique urban development method. The exhibition of the archaeological relics on the basement level, a 'Memory Ground', promotes the harmonious coexistence of the past and present.

    With Sewoon Grounds, we want to balance between history and future, urban industry and urban creative lives, maximum volume, open spaces. Our design update evolves a demolition-based redevelopment into regeneration and urban transformation.
    Hyeri Park, Associate Partner at KCAP

  • To encourage sustainable development of the urban industrial eco-system supporting anchor activities are located throughout the building. The ‘Breeding Ground’, acts as a platform for urban industry and is connected to the Sewoon Arcade. The ‘Flying Ground’ at the top adds new program and will be related to the Sewoon Roof. The ‘Sky Ground’ is added by the design update to secure the public view towards Jongmyo UNESCO heritage.

  • Thanks to the connection of the multi-layered urban context in a three-dimensional way, the proposal offers a dynamic multi-dimensional city vertically accumulated in space and time. Sewoon Grounds respects the cultural heritage while developing a people-oriented urban design that stimulates urban craftsmanship in Seoul. 

    We created a three-dimensionally located landscape that is inspired by Korean landscapes. On the ground level, we have the retail street on the trace of the old alley - as River Alley. It is a pedestrian route connecting all different avenues and the Cheonggye river. At deck level, above the old tree alleys, elevated walkways are leading to the Sewoon deck level, working as a Green Cavity. On the Flying ground, we proposed a loop to connect with the Sewoon Roof, offering an elevated park in the middle of the project, like Cliff Park. On each terrace, green outdoor areas foster the offices’ dialogue with the city and the landscape (mountains) around. High Peaks inspire the roof top. This building is featured with three-dimensional green spaces.

  • "This porous publicly stacked urban agglomeration, which we call 'Sewoon Grounds', will create new urban quality based on the old and existing values. We designed an urban background, not just A building."
    Hyeri Park, associate partner at KCAP

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