UNStudio, in collaboration with Korean firm Heerim Architects & Planners, has won the competition to design the 32 tower masterplan of Eunma Housing Development in the neighborhood of Daechi-Dong, Seoul. The unique project commission is being led by the residents of the Eunma Housing Development themselves, who have tasked the architects with redeveloping their current homes into a new, future-orientated eco-design that can be used as a blueprint for other resident-driven development projects.
“Designing a scheme for a resident-driven development is particularly interesting because you are responding directly to the needs of an established community,” said UNStudio founder Ben van Berkel. “They know the strengths and requirements of the area and how they want to see their community develop. This local knowledge is invaluable to the design.”
The winning scheme has been designed around the philosophy of “Live, Work and Play” to cater to a wide-variety of tenants, ranging from families to young professionals. The project will transform an area of over a million square meters, adding over 1,500 new apartments to the 4,424 currently on site. This will be achieved by replacing existing 35 story towers with 50 story towers and pushing parking facilities below ground, freeing up space for a new shared eco landscape surrounding the towers.
The master plan has been divided into 4 circular zones and 6 landscape quadrants that react to the condition of the site boundaries, resulting into 24 “bespoke neighborhoods.” The site is accessible to the surrounding neighborhood and greater city through two lively street fronts and two nearby metro station entrances. Retail, food, beverage and leisure spaces will also contribute to the neighborhood’s urban presence.
Each of the 32 towers can be viewed as its own stacked neighborhood featuring sky-gardens and elevated semi-public spaces, but rather than all reaching the same dimensions, the heights of the buildings are tapered to improve visual connection to surroundings. A multi-level ground floor links the 6 tallest “iconic” central towers into one integrated development.
The “Live, Work and Play” concept can also be seen in the project’s six themed gardens, designed to choreograph movement through the site, define each neighborhood block and inspire education: Curiosity Forest, Excitement Garden, Alluring Urban-ground, Contemplation Cloud, Playfulness Park and Longevity Fields.
Above all, the Eunma Housing Development seeks to create comfortable living conditions for its residents, offering cross-ventilation, natural light and a healthy living environment in each unit. Add in spacious building entrances and semi-private elevators servicing 2 apartments per floor, and the resulting community will be one where residents can feel safe and welcome.
News via UNStudio.
Architects
Location
Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South KoreaUNStudio
Ben van Berkel, Gerard Loozekoot with René Wysk, Harlen Miller and Megan Hurford, Jung Jae Suh, Sibilla BonfantiHeerim Architects & Planners
Young Kyoon Jeong, Kyu Young Park with Sung Won Oh, Seung Uk Oh, Jae Kyu Lee, Hyun Joon Yoo, Seung Wang Lee, Kyung Sook Cho, Eun Hee Ha, Chanhee Lee, Hyun Il Kang, Mi Ran Kang, Hyun Joo Kim, Yun Hyeok Kim, So Young Choi, Hun Il Park, Sun Wook Kim, Jae Yeon Lee, Hyun Rock Kang, Hee Seung Kim, Jun Seong Park, Seung Woo Lee, Jae Won Kim, Jun Ha Hwang, Sung Jun Moon, YuWon KangClient (Masterplan)
Promotion Committee Office of EUNMA Apartment RedevelopmentClient (UNStudio)
Heerim Architects & PlannersProgram
32 towers, ranging from 25-50 stories (5,940 units) masterplanStatus
Design vision, competition first prizeBuilding Site
0.5 square kilometersArea
1149000.0 m2Photographs
Architects
