© Luxigon

Despite the controversy, the South Korean developer plans to move forward with MVRDV‘s design of The Cloud. The Dutch firm has received harsh criticism after releasing their design for the two residential towers that will be built in Seoul’s redeveloped Yongsan business district. Unconvinced by MVRDV’s sincere apologies, critics remain outraged, claiming the design resembles the collapsing World Trade Center following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

White Paik, spokesman for the Yongsan Development Corporation, states, “Allegations that it [the design] was inspired by the 9/11 attacks are groundless.” Further stating that there will be no changes to the project. Construction will begin in January 2013 and The Cloud is scheduled to be completed in 2015.

Connected by a cloud-shaped section halfway up the buildings, the additional program will include sky lounges, restaurants and a swimming pool. View more information on the design here on ArchDaily.

Reference: The Sydney Morning Herald

© ChaiSoo Ok

Architects: Joel Sanders Architect, Haeahn Architecture
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Client: LIG Engineering&Construction Co.
Size: 8,000 squaremeters / 2 acres / 86,111 sf
Units: 12 at 3,000 sf each
Photographs: ChaiSoo Ok

   
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© Youngchae Park

Architects: iArc Architects
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Area: 7,590.64 sqm (Building), 12,709.40 sqm(Site)
Photographs: Youngchae Park

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© Youngchae Park

Architects: iArc Architects
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Year: Complete January 2010
Area: 6,172.65 sqm (Building), 1862.25 sqm (Site)
Photo Credits: Youngchae Park

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© Luxigon

Dutch firm MVRDV has received harsh criticism since they revealed the proposal for two luxury residential towers in South Korea, named after its inspiration, The Cloud. The two towers are connected by a “pixilated cloud of additional program.” Critics are outraged, stating the design resembles the collapsing twin towers of the World Trade Center following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

MVRDV spokesman Jan Kinkker stated, “We’ve had quite a lot of calls from angry Americans saying it’s a disgrace. 9/11 was not the inspiration behind the design, the inspiration was a real cloud.” He added, “It was not our intention to create an image resembling the attacks nor did we see the resemblance during the design process. We sincerely apologize to anyone whose feelings we have hurt.”

Project developer Dream Corporation selected The Cloud design proposal over a number of other options and will have the final say on whether or not they will consider another alternative.

Reference: BD

© Luxigon

The Cloud: Two Connected Luxury Residential Towers by MVRDVis a residential development of the Yongsan Business district. A 260 meter tall tower and a 300 meter tall tower are connected in the center by a pixelated cloud of additional programs offering amenities and outside spaces with wide views. The towers with a total surface of 128,000m2 are expected to be completed in 2015. More images and project description after the break. read more »

© Yum Seung Hoon

Architects: modo architect office
Location: Seoul, Korea
Project Year: 2009
Project Area: 276.46 sqm (GFA)
Photographs: Yum Seung Hoon

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Courtesy of SO-IL

Architects: SO-IL
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Client: Kukje Gallery
Project Area: 1,500 sqm
Photographs: Courtesy of SO-IL

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© Seunghoon Yum

Architects: Hyunjoon Yoo Architects
Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Project Team: HyunjoonYoo, Yeongseop Yoon
Project Year: 2011
Project Areas: 680 sqm
Photographs: Seunghoon Yum

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© Taeoh Kim

The ChonGae Canal Restoration Project is an ambitious redevelopment initiative that transformed the urban fabric of Seoul, Korea. This design was the winning project in an international competition and celebrates the source point of cleansed surficial and sub grade runoff from the city at the start of this seven mile green corridor. The main competition requirement was to highlight the future reunification of North and South Korea. The project symbolizes this political effort through the use of donated local stone from each of the eight provinces of North and South Korea. The individual stones act to frame the urban plaza and the eight source points where runoff is daylighted and represents the unified effort in the transformation of this urban center.

Landscape Architect: Mikyoung Kim Design
Location: Central Seoul, Korea
Owner/Client: Seoul Metropolitan Government
Project Area: 91,000 sqm [2.25 acres]
Project Year: 2007
Photographs: Taeoh Kim, Robert Such

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© Park young-chae

Architect: Moohoi Architecture
Location: SeoDaemoon-Koo, Seoul, Korea
Lead Architect: Kim Jae-kwan
Written Material: Kim jae-kwan
Construction: Kim Jae-kwan
Site Area: 133.6 sqm
Project Area: 140.2 sqm
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Park young-chae

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© Samoo Architects & Engineers

Architect: DeStefano Partners, Samoo Architects & Engineers 
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Project Year: 2o11
Photographs: Samoo Architects & Engineers 

Originally called the Dongnam Distribution Center (DDC), the recently renamed Garden 5 Tool complex is a mega-shopping center in Seoul, South Korea.  The structure was designed by DeStefano Partners of Chicago, Illinois in conjunction with Samoo Architects & Engineers as the associate architect. read more »

Courtesy of Andrés Jaque Architects

Based on the research on spread-in-the-city-domesticity, Andrés Jaque Architects produced their ‘Sweet Parliament Home’ based on the field work they have been doing in the last months in Seoul, South Korea and was presented at the Gwangju Design Biennale 2011. More images and brief description after the break. read more »

© Park Young-chae

Architect: Moohoi Architecture
Location: 1487-10 SeoCho-Dong, SeoCho-Koo, Seoul, Korea
Lead Architect: Kim Jae-kwan
Construction: Kim Jae-kwan
Written Material: Kim Jae-kwan
Project Area: 237.69 sqm
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Park Young-chae

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© Park Young-chae

Architect: Moohoi Architecture
Location: DaeLim Appartment, SeoDaemoon-Koo, Seoul, Korea
Lead Architect: Kim Jae-kwan
Construction: Kim Jae-kwan
Written Material: Kim Jae-kwan
Project Area: 152 sqm
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Park Young-chae

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© Park Wansun - Hotel

Architects: JUNGLIN Architecture
Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Client: Kyungbang
Site area: 44 sqm
Photographs: Park Wansun

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© Kyungsub Shin

Architects: BCHO Architects
Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Project team: Kang Woo-hyun, Erik Horn, Park Gi-hyun, Pai Yong-eun, Nicholas Locke, Kwon Sung-Hwa, Seo Ji-young, Park Joo- hyun, Eric Druse
Project area: 4,403 sqm
Project year: 2006 – 2010
Photographs: Kyungsub Shin, Wooseop Hwang

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© Hwang Hyochel

The ‘Box Mobile Gallery’ is a gallery responsive to various exhibition intentions and art media. The gallery consists of 12 panels soft-hinged side by side. Each of these panels features an art work fixed to its inside. The flexibility of the soft hinge system allows the spatial reconfiguration of the gallery, transforming one space to another according to site conditions, exhibition intention, and art media; from independent cells for an individual exhibition, to a common exhibition space for a group exhibition, often times with an introductory area or a court yard, and to a special exhibition space for various art media.

Architect: WISE Architecture
Location: Jongno-gu Tongin-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Hwang Hyochel

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© Courtesy of Jun Mitsui & Associates Architects + Unsangdong Architects

Architects: Jun Mitsui & Associates Architects + Unsangdong Architects
Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Design Team: Jun Mitsui, Nicolai Kruger, Ray Wu, Minsu Kim, Yoshie Shinbo, Jang Yoon Gyoo, Shin Chang Hoon, Lee Soon Phyo, Moon Sang Ho, Kim Se Jin, Kim Bong Kyun, Kang Seung Hyun
Project area: 4,316 sqm
Project year: 2007 – 2010
Photographs: E-Jae-seong,  Shinkenchiku

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diagram 01: adopting acordian system to get mobility

Seoul Manifesto, a group of young architects in Seoul, South Korea, are known for designing projects with the objective of making structures with better social responsibility. In their project, Hello Mongol / HM VER 1.0 / ABSORBING GER, their goal is to make a mobile structure which can achieve two different goals, making an alternative residence for desertification of Mongol and stirring up the public’s attention for the problem. More images and architects’ description after the break. read more »