Extreme makeover: Seoul pursues design revolution

This 3D image demonstrates how Seoul wants to introduce a new floating performance stage to Nodeul Island to maximize the venue's identity as "the island of arts." Seven architecture firms from around the world are working on the ultimate redevelopment plan for the island. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

New landmark's beauty will spread out to more city structures

By Ko Dong-hwan

Nodeul Island, a casual spot in the Han River which often sizzles with live music and hip cultural activities, is waiting for a new plan to reshape itself.

Seven architecture firms designated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government ― four Korean teams and three based respectively in Denmark, the U.K. and Germany ― are coming up for proposals to win the bid. Costs and construction feasibility will be considered, but the design comes first.

It is the city government's bid to make the island into the river's new landmark.

"The nightscape at the waterfront of the Han River hasn't been as appreciated as it deserves," said an official from the Urban Space Planning Division under the city government's Future Urban Spaces Planning Bureau. "The goal is to make the island and the rest of the waterfront more attractive."

The new Nodeul Island is known as "the island of arts." There are plans to connect the east and west sides of the island, split apart by Hangang Bridge, and install a new observatory to provide 360-degree views of the surroundings. A new floating performance stage with the river and bridges as a backdrop is also in the cards.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza in eastern Seoul's Dongdaemun Market boasts an unusual design, which the city government is eager to expand throughout the city. Korea Times file

The contest began last December and continues until March. The participants have visited the site and began working on their designs. After sending in their submissions, the city will decide on the project's overall schedule and financing plan. Afterward, the winning plan will be selected.

Nodeul, the start of change

Nodeul Island is the start of the city government's new initiative to introduce innovative designs ― unlike most of the existing structures in the city that are criticized for looking similar and lacking creativity. Old apartments in the city have long been mocked as "matchboxes" or "chicken cages." The authority said the problems were caused by the city's old regulations that control new buildings' height, building coverage and floor area ratio, as well as the complicated assessment process on new building plans.

"Buildings in Rotterdam and other parts of the Netherlands, for example, are represented by keywords like freedom and diversity," said an official from the urban space planning division, mentioning the biggest port city in the Europe. "Their unique designs were born to overcome the country's geographical disadvantage of a quarter of the country's land being below sea level."

The city's announcement of its new initiative on Thursday follows the new city development plan by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation announced on Jan. 5. The ministry had said the new plan will "embrace more ideas by private thinkers to shatter the stereotypical urban plans" and "mitigate regulations by a huge differential to maximize private developers' capabilities."

The city government said it will fix the old regulations and administrative steps that have long limited construction of buildings with creative designs in the city.

Seoul has been looking at some of the world's top-notch designs, like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain, above. Gettyimagesbank

"The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain attracts 1.3 million visitors every year, taking 100 billion won ($80 million), while Rotterdam brings in 10 million tourists each year, earning tourism revenue of 800 billion won," the official said.

One of the methods to improve design in the city, according to the city authority, is deciding first how new buildings should be designed. The step has so far been behind determining a construction schedule and a project budget, making the design part conditional to the whole project.

"The new practice will make building a structure with an unorthodox design that requires special construction methods, like Dongdaemun Design Plaza, more conventional by adjusting design or construction costs more flexibly," the official said. "We will also incentivize private builders to come up with more daring designs by allowing them a floor area ratio up to 120 percent of what's currently legally allowed."

The city government said more city spaces will be made available for various purposes rather than a singular purpose to make the space more versatile. It called this new practice "Beyond zoning." It will also replace the term "special construction zones" with "design freedom zones." Verifying and approving building projects at the final stage will also be more simplified and design-friendly so that their design plans won't be affected by different evaluators or redundant procedures in later stages of construction, the authority said.

In addition to Nodeul Island, the city government plans to apply the new construction practice to further projects at the second Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul Eastern Detention Center and a public parking lot by Suseo SRT Station.