[Seoul's Future] Architect Jo Byung-su "Yongsan Development Must Consider Connection with Green Spaces"

Asia Economy Seoul Future Forum - Lecture on Yongsan's Future
Architect Byungsoo Cho (CEO of Byungsoo Cho Architecture Studio)
"Ancestors 100 Years Ago Also Valued Urban Nature"
Regulatory Relaxation Needed for Flexibility in Development, Including Building Coverage Ratio

"An important aspect of Yongsan development is consideration of the landscape."

Architect Byungsoo Cho (CEO of Byungsoo Cho Architectural Research Institute) said this on the 26th during a lecture titled "The Future of Yongsan" at the 2024 Seoul Future Forum hosted by Asia Economy at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. He stated, "I have been thinking about how to create a city while preserving the natural terrain."

On that day, he presented on the topic of "Yongsan Development and Seoul Green Network." Architect Cho expressed regret, saying, "When I cross Banpo Bridge from Gangbuk to go to work and see the massive apartment complexes, they completely block the natural scenery. I wondered what it would have been like if even a part of it had been open. I wish such considerations had been made when designing the city."

Cho Byung-su, CEO of Cho Byung-su Architecture Research Institute, attended the "2024 Seoul Future Forum: The Future of Yongsan" held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 26th, delivering a lecture on the topic "Yongsan Development and Seoul Green Network." Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Architect Cho, who served as the general director of the 4th Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale from 2022 to 2023, referred to the "100-Year Master Plan" for Seoul that he announced at the time. The core of the Seoul Green Network is to establish green spaces connecting various parts of downtown Seoul, including the Han River.

He explained that the entire city of Seoul, including Yongsan, has been connected by a single road and axis over the past 100 years. Architect Cho said, "Even when looking at drawings made by our ancestors in the 1700s and 1800s, it is clear that interest in the city started from the mountains and rivers. Despite the presence of industrial facilities, there is potential to create connections through green spaces."

He emphasized that the key point to consider in urban development is "how naturally people can utilize the space." In Yongsan, where various developments such as the Yongsan International Business District and Nodeul Island development are underway, considerations of green space connectivity, landscape, and ecology must be prerequisites. He explained that delicate design is necessary to ensure natural connections with the surrounding environment even during processes such as undergrounding railroads and reorganizing aboveground spaces.

He pointed out, "The method of elevating platforms to create walkways or buildings was widely promoted in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. Our country’s Sewoon Sangga was also built this way, but after construction, it turned out that people did not frequently use the elevated areas." He added, "While theoretically construction is always possible, the key is to make it feel comfortable and like actual ground when built."

Cho Byungsoo, CEO of Cho Byungsoo Architecture Research Institute, attended the "2024 Seoul Future Forum: The Future of Yongsan" held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 26th, delivering a lecture on the topic "Yongsan Development and Seoul Green Network." Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

He added that institutional improvements such as easing floor area ratio and building coverage ratio regulations are necessary for better development. Architect Cho said, "It is necessary to encourage construction based on the shape of the mountains and terrain rather than strictly adhering to fixed floor area and building coverage ratios. From a designer’s perspective, providing incentives or relaxing regulations to allow more flexibility could help coexistence with surrounding areas."

Architect Cho studied architecture at Montana State University in the United States and earned a master's degree in architecture and urban design from Harvard University Graduate School. Since founding Byungsoo Cho Architectural Research Institute in 1994, he has participated in various projects and gained recognition both domestically and internationally, including being named one of the world’s leading 11 architects and receiving the highest award from the American Institute of Architects.