This project recognizes the housing crisis that is certain to affect the aging population of Seoul. Throughout Seoul and much of Asia, housing developments maximize the profitability of each land parcel, often marginalizing the living conditions of residents, or targeting a price range beyond a fixed income. The constant turnover of development and lack of urban durability also damages livability and natural environment. We address these problems at the building, block, and district scales.  

At the scale of the building, our project rejects the trend toward income or age-specific development and focuses on creating a diversity of housing types within each building that support people in different stages of life.  We deploy the bar and tower typologies with a collection of efficient units that support affordable living, multi-generational residents, urban intimacy, and site density. This encourages a diverse population and community to occupy each block.

At the scale of the block this development requires a number of services for working, living and entertainment. To address these needs, the project inserts vertical community spaces into the building typologies. These serve residents with recreation areas, workspaces and services like daycares, clinics and libraries. We place each residential building on a mixed-use podium, providing retail and commercial opportunities and larger public spaces for the residents and greater community.

At the scale of the district we capitalize on the site’s underutilized rail corridor by creating a raised systems conduit and public park running over the train right-of- way. The systems conduit provides the district with power, waste, telecommunication, transportation, and stormwater infrastructure all while protecting from potential floods. The continuous plaza above weaves the site together and draws the natural elements of Yongsan Park and the riverfront in an incredible civic amenity.