Creating green forest in low-rise areas and sky lounge in high-rise
Public contribution of 149.2 billion KRW confirmed through prior negotiation
Donating hotel-owned green facilities to connect green spaces
Demolishing retaining walls to strengthen links with surrounding areas
A complex development facility including a hotel and officetel with a height of 47 floors will be constructed on the site of 'The Riverside Hotel,' which opened in 1981 as the first luxury hotel in the Gangnam area.
On the 2nd, Seoul City announced that it has completed the final preliminary negotiations for the complex development of the Riverside Hotel site (6,491.9㎡) in Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, and prepared the 'Riverside Hotel Development Plan (draft)'.
A landmark building by the Han River with a maximum height of 47 floors will be built on the Riverside Hotel site. The building will have a total floor area of 112,246㎡, including a hotel (57,342㎡), hotel ancillary facilities (24,464㎡), and officetel (30,440㎡).
The project site is located at the southern end of Hannam Bridge, connecting Gangnam and Gangbuk, and at the gateway of the Gyeongbu Expressway. Green spaces are planned for the lower floors, and tourist accommodation facilities for the upper floors, expected to become a tourism hub representing the Sinsa Station, Jamwon, and Banpo Hangang Park areas.
Seoul City explained, "As domestic and international tourism is increasing again after COVID-19, the development plan guiding complex development centered on an international luxury hotel will serve as an opportunity to enhance the quality and appeal of Seoul tourism."
The Riverside Hotel site will be the first to apply the three incentives (architectural design innovation, carbon zero, tourist accommodation) included in Seoul City's 'Preliminary Negotiation System Improvement Plan.' The floor area ratio will be finally decided through procedures within 1023%.
The complex development plan also includes a public contribution plan worth 149.2 billion KRW through preliminary negotiations. The facility green space designated as a buffer green zone along the Gyeongbu Expressway will be donated, connecting previously segmented green spaces to complete the longest green axis in the Gangnam area.
Until now, the section of facility green space owned by the hotel remained unexecuted, but the landowner agreed with the city to donate it immediately upon the district unit plan decision.
Additionally, for local residents, an old senior citizens' center will be rebuilt, and after detailing the project plan and feasibility review, installations such as a direct ramp from Gyeongbu Expressway to Gangnam-daero and a public parking lot will be reflected. The public contributions donated in cash will be allocated as funds for installing public facilities for balanced regional development.
The Riverside Hotel site was selected as a target for urban architectural design innovation in March. The lower floors of the building will leave only a minimal lobby area and raise the building about 7 floors high (25m) or more, creating a green forest of about 6,500㎡ linked to adjacent green spaces. Architect Wei Jinbok of UIA, who won the 2024 Seoul Architecture Award Grand Prize, is in charge of the design.
The upper floors of the building will feature a Han River view specialized space, including a sky lounge and garden cafe, accessible not only to hotel guests but also to all citizens. The 280m-tall super high-rise building applies a cantilever structure with some parts protruding like wings, appearing to float in the air, and a block-type facade design.
To improve accessibility for local residents, high retaining walls will be demolished, and public pedestrian paths will be created to enhance connectivity with the low-rise urban forest and surrounding areas, with widened walkways.
The district unit plan (draft) prepared through preliminary negotiations will complete public inspection announcements this month, undergo review by the Urban Architecture Joint Committee, and be finalized through a decision notification in the second half of this year. Construction is scheduled to begin next year, aiming for completion as early as 2028.
Im Chang-su, Director of Future Space Planning at Seoul City, said, "With this plan (draft), the Riverside Hotel site, which once defined an era, is taking a historic first step to be reborn as a landmark representing the Gangnam area," adding, "We will continue to faithfully promote urban architectural design innovation that delivers the city's charm and inspiration to domestic and international visitors to Seoul."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
