Seoul City Architecture Committee Approves Building Review
Includes 150 Units of US Embassy Staff Housing
Seongsu-dong Former E-Mart Site Office Facilities,
Isu Station Area Long-Term Lease Housing Also Approved
The ‘Aseia Apartment’ in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, will be constructed with up to 36 floors and a total of 997 households. It is planned to be an open complex linked with surrounding development plans.
On the 4th, Seoul City announced that the 19th Architectural Committee held on the 3rd approved the architectural review for the ‘Aseia Apartment Special Planning Zone Housing Construction Project.’
Bird's-eye view of the 'Asea Apartment Special Planning Zone Housing Construction Project.' Provided by Seoul City
The Aseia Apartment Special Planning Zone located within the ‘Yongsan District Unit Planning Zone’ (65-1 Hangangno 3-ga, Yongsan-gu, and four other parcels) will consist of 10 buildings, ranging from three basement floors to 36 above-ground floors, with a total of 997 households (847 for sale, 150 public contribution households), along with public contribution facilities and neighborhood living facilities. On the lower floors of the complex, 150 housing units for U.S. Embassy staff (donated) will be provided in accordance with the MOU signed between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the U.S. Embassy in Korea.
To create a diverse and three-dimensional waterfront landscape, the city designated the site as a special architectural zone and established a layout plan to improve sunlight exposure inside and outside the complex. Furthermore, it plans to create an open urban space by securing connectivity and consistency with surrounding development plans. A living street system will be established, and public open facilities and sports facilities linked to nearby schools will be planned to foster a community-oriented complex.
At the same meeting, the architectural reviews for the ‘Office Building New Construction Project at 333-16 Seongsu-dong 2-ga’ and the ‘Long-term Lease Housing Project in Isu Station Area’ were also approved.
A bird's-eye view of the 'Seongsu-dong 2-ga 333-16 area office facility new construction project' in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Provided by Seoul City
The area around 333-16 Seongsu-dong 2-ga is the former site of the Emart headquarters near Seongsu Station on Subway Line 2. Through this review, an office building with a total floor area of 233,353.77㎡ and 8 basement floors to 18 above-ground floors will be constructed. The lower floors will include cultural and assembly facilities, and sales facilities will be located on the first basement floor. The design is by British architect David Chipperfield, who won the Pritzker Prize in 2023.
The site will serve as a new hub space in the Seongsu-dong area, implementing innovative design to invigorate the city. Considering connectivity with adjacent areas, a mixed-use facility combining office and cultural activities is also planned. In particular, the mixed cultural space planned for the lower floors is expected to be used as a communication place for local residents. Additionally, an open space providing ample green and resting areas will be created to improve the surrounding environment.
At 161-55 Sadang-dong, a complex of 10 buildings ranging from three basement floors to 26 above-ground floors with a total of 944 households (853 for sale, 91 public rental housing) will be constructed, along with public contribution facilities and neighborhood living facilities. This is a long-term lease housing project near Isu Station on Subway Line 7, located about 300 meters from the station, where old houses and buildings will be demolished and rebuilt through a local housing cooperative project.
The Architectural Committee planned reasonable horizontal and vertical circulation routes considering the convenience of users of the long-term lease housing near the station, secured public pedestrian paths to maintain existing school routes and improve access to nearby parks. Additionally, a youth cultural center, a public contribution facility linked to the living street, was planned on part of the lower floors.
Han Byung-yong, Director of the Housing Office at Seoul City, said, “We will continue to actively strive to apply excellent designs and create citizen spaces to enhance public value for urban landscape improvement. We will also conduct multifaceted reviews to create an ‘attractive city’ Seoul with a residential community that communicates through housing complex plans linked with surrounding areas.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
