Seoul

In the bustling streets of Seoul, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza by Zaha Hadid Architects has become a landmark for its atypical architecture. A complex yet effortless building, the Design Plaza encapsulates the energy of the cultural hub in Dongdaemun, an area that has itself earned the nickname of the "town that never sleeps" thanks to its late-night fashion market.

Investigating the building's twists and turns, Andres Gallardo has photographed the structure's fluid compositions. Although his photographs display little human presence, the building itself expresses the activity that occurs throughout day and night. Beneath the walkable park on the roof, Dongdaemun Design Plaza includes large global exhibition spaces, a design museum, 24-hour retail stores and a media center, among many other facilities that intertwine across the levels.

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• Architects

  YKH Associates

• Location

  55-2 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Lead Architect

  Tae Sun Hong

• Team

  Soyeon Kim, Jaeho Shin, Daejung Sang, Seho Lee, Jongmin Lee, Yeongmuk Bak, Yongki Kim

• Area

  556.26 m2

• Project Year

  2017

• Photographs

  Jeongkyu Lee, Jaechul Yu

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• Architects

  MMKM associates

• Location

  1 Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Architect in Charge

  Seohong Min

• Design Team

  Arnold Ghil

• Area

  2941.97 m2

• Project Year

  2017

• Photographs

  Hanul Lee

+ 39

• Architects

  DESIGN GROUP COLLABO

• Location

  Seoul, South Korea

• Architect in Charge

  JOUNG MoonChul

• Area

  270.07 m2

• Project Year

  2015

• Photographs

  Yoon Joonhwan

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• Architects

  JHW IROJE architects&planners

• Location

  30 Dosan-daero 101-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Lead Architects

  Jung Hyowon

• Area

  1592.54 m2

• Project Year

  2015

• Photographs

  Kim, Youngkwan

+ 34

• Architects

  Dongjin Kim, L'eau Design

• Location

  41 Hakdong-ro 46-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Area

  458.86 m2

• Project Year

  2015

• Photographs

  Kyungsub Shin

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• Architects

  Leehong Kim Architects

• Location

  Seoul, South Korea

• Area

  330.0 m2

• Project Year

  2012

• Photographs

  Kyung Sub Shin

+ 21

• Architects

  Dongjin Kim (Hongik University), L'eau Design

• Location

  142 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Design Team

  Sanghak Lee, Jongbum Park, Ikhyeon Joo, Haein Park, Donghwi Jung, Jihye Yoon, Jeongyeol Kwon

• Area

  373.49 m2

• Project Year

  2015

• Photographs

  Shin, Kyungsub

+ 34

• Architects

  Idea5 Architects

• Location

  10-8 Yanghwa-ro 23-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Lead Architect

  YoungRan Kang

• Project Year

  2017

• Photographs

  Kwang Sik JUNG

+ 16

• Architects

  KYWC Architects, Kim Seunghoy (Seoul National University)

• Location

  8 Seongbukdong 1(il)-ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Lead Architects

  Kim Seunghoy (Seoul National University)

• Project Team

  Yoo Yongyeon

• Construction

  Ean R&C (Kim Jongkyu)

• Area

  1177.0 m2

• Project Year

  2014

• Photographs

  KIM Jaekyung

+ 28

• Architects

  KYWC Architects, Kim Seunghoy (Seoul National University)

• Location

  254-98 Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Lead Architects

  Kim Seunghoy (Seoul National University)

• Project Team

  Kim Jungyun, Kim Hanjoong

• Area

  240.0 m2

• Project Year

  2014

• Photographs

  KIM Jaekyung

+ 30

• Architects

  KYWC Architects, Kim Seunghoy (Seoul National University)

• Location

  117-41 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Lead Architects

  Kim Seunghoy (Seoul National University)

• Project Team

  Moon Jooho, Kim Yerie

• Area

  1960.0 m2

• Project Year

  2014

• Photographs

  KIM Jaekyung

2017 was another banner year for skyscraper construction.

According to the 2017 Tall Building Year in Review, the annual web report from The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), a record-breaking 144 buildings 200 meters tall (656 feet tall) or higher were completed in 2017, led by the 599-meter-tall Ping An Finance Center and 555-meter-tall Lotte World Tower.

In the report, CTBUH outlines this year’s trends in tall building design. Notably, 2017 proved to be the most geographically diverse year in history for tall buildings, with 69 cities across 23 countries completing new towers, an significant increase from 54 cities and 18 countries in 2016. Of those numbers, 28 cities and 8 countries completed their new tallest building.

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Dominique Perrault Architecture has been selected as the winner of an international competition to design the Gangnam International Transit Center, a new multimodal hub and shopping center located in the heart of Seoul, South Korea.

Called Lightwalk, the project will be centered around a below and above ground axial corridor described by the architects as  “minimalistic, yet incredibly powerful gesture” in dialogue with the nearby Han River, Tancheon Stream and the mountains beyond. Within the “groundwalk” and surrounding area will be exhibition spaces, cafes, restaurants, offices and an educational center. Underground spaces will be located beneath a crystalline glass roof, connecting program back to the city and natural light and air.

See the full description from the architects below.

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