SEOUL URBAN PLAN 

Project Type

The global trend of increased urbanisation is creating problems for the expansion of cities such as Seoul. The population density and the increasing retail competition has led to the streets having forests of signs, competing to be seen. This dense layering of signage is an inspiration for the project. The project assumes the mass migration from North to South Korea, causing a population surge in Seoul. The project explores an alternative solution to high rises to house the expanding population. Living ‘canyons’ are carved out below existing street level, making use of the low-use negative space between buildings. In the past and present, the space below ground level has not traditionally been associated with living due to the human requirement of daylight. The project explores a system to generate more living area below ground level whilst maintaining good daylight levels. Building into the earth creates opportunities for horizontal as well as vertical connectivity and connections to the existing underground network. Depthmap, a spatial analysis software, aids an understanding of the integration and connectivity of existing Seoul at urban and local scale. This understanding informs the choice of site and enables analysis of the spatial arrangement of other residential areas. The circulation patterns around the chosen site are analysed to assess the impact of changes to the street network.