On paper, I can only subscribe to the five principles supporting this vast plan, in particular because they confirm the intention to dump the old 'Korean new town' model:
1) Humans are now at the center of the city.
2) Abandon the uniform destruction / redevelopment process for a customized approach.
3) Involve residents in the process from the early planning stages to the completion.
4) Abandon short-termism for an evolutive, sustainable approach.
5) Seoul focuses its investments on the community and regional vitality.
These 27 projects have been listed in 4 categories:
- Underdeveloped or declining industrial areas:
- 1) Seun Sangga in Jongno-gu (see recent focus: "Revamping Seun Sangga - If Possible Without Vampirizing The Area")
- 2) G-Valley in Guro-gu (Seoul Digital Industry Complex)
- 3) Janganpyeong in Dongdaemun-gu (used cars, see January focus)
- History and culture:
- 4) Sejongdae-ro - Note that after all, Gwanghwamun Square may extend instead of moving west, as feared (see "Gwanghwamun, Donhwamun, and the Tale of two Royal Roads")
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| twitter.com/theseoulvillage/status/571091284665856000 |
- 5) Mapo Oil Depot in Mapo-gu (this magical industrial site covering 100,000 sqm in Seongsan-dong will become a Cultural Depot Park)
- 6) Hangang-Nodeulseom in Dongjak-gu: at last an end to the drama? this part of the riverside and Nodeul Island have seen so many projects pass by, including with Jean Nouvel...
- 7) Namsan Cablecar area in Jung-gu / Yongsan-gu - not far from the cult Hoehyeon Apartment (see "Hoehyeon Apt, Chungjeong Apt, Dongdaemun Apt, Ogin Apt...")
- 8) Danginri cultural project in Mapo-gu (the Danginri Power Station becomes a park and a cultural space, and Sangsu-Hapjeong has already been colonized by Hongdae refugees fleeing rent hikes)
- 9) Nagwon Sangga - Donhwamun-ro in Jongno-gu: we last mentioned the case of Donhwamun-ro in an October focus, and Nagwon Sangga remains a crux between the Insadong-Anguk-Donhwamun-Tapgol clusters. Over the past decade, the time capsule has shrunk to the underground market, but I love that small guitar shop at the feet of the concrete giant:
- 10) Donuimun in Jongno-gu (for the moment, the machines digging the foundations of Gyonam new town are more visible than the elusive old gate restoration - see posts related to Gyonam or Donuimun, and the old "Donuimun Restoration and Sadaemun Resurrection")
- Underdeveloped or underperforming central areas:
- 11) Seoul Station area in Yongsan-gu: see previous posts on the Seoul Skyway (including the January focus and "Seoul Station Elevated Park (Seoul Station Project 7017? The Seoul Vine?) - An Update")
- 12) Changdong-Sanggye in Nowon-gu: among the seven projects mentioned in the January focus
- 13) Coex-Jamsil in Gangnam-gu-Songpa-gu: the International Exchange Complex among the seven projects mentioned in the January focus
- 14) Kwangwoon University Station in Nowon-gu: for 3 years, Seoul has been looking for ways to optimize a massive area between this station (formerly Seongbuk Station) and Seokgye Station, both on Line 1. That part of Wolgye-dong lies between Jungnangcheon and the university.
- 15) Sangam DMC - Susaek: the northwestern side will be beefed up to extend the DMC's creative economy cluster.
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| twitter.com/theseoulvillage/status/572932036878454785 |
- Old residential zones:
- 16) Seonggwak Maeul (Fortress Village) in Seongbuk-gu: the idea is to preserve and maintain this special Seoul village by the fortress walls. Does it mean that the maeul bus won't be anymore the only coach touring this charming ring on the top of a hill overlooking the valley? Seonggwak Maeul has already become more touristic lately, but in the first place, it was not very animated, with quite a few NIMBY-ish residences.
- 17) Baeksa Village in Nowon-gu - an all time fave, and a perfect spot for Seoul's favorite marmot (see "Over the moon")
- 18) Haebangchon in Yongsan-gu: as if HBC's bobo-ization needed a boost from the city...
- 19) Amsa-dong Seoul-type Urban Regeneration Pilot Project in Gangdong-gu: 635,000 sqm themed after history and prehistory
- 20) Seongsu-dong Seoul-type Urban Regeneration Pilot Project in Seongdong-gu: 211,000 sqm themed after the local industries (shoes, leather, printing...). Already a trendy spot. BTW time for a shout-out for the Place SAI team:
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| SAI Festival 2015 (March 20-22 in Seongsu): saifest.co.kr |
- 21) Sinchon-dong Seoul-type Urban Regeneration Pilot Project in Seodaemun-gu: themed after the integration of university students and residents.
- 22) Sangdo-dong Seoul-type Urban Regeneration Pilot Project in Dongjak-gu: 750,000 sqm themed after inter-generation love.
- 23) Jangwi-dong Seoul-type Urban Regeneration Pilot Project in Seongbuk-gu: 318,000 sqm themed after alleyway communities
- 24) Settlements around Bukhansan in Dobong-gu: let's hope that won't spoil the quietest and cutest spots.
- 25) Seochon in Jongno-gu: now almost completely gentrified, the neighborhood doesn't taste the same.
- 26) Changsin-dong and Sungin-dong in Jongno-gu: on each side of Jibong-ro, two neighborhoods with a rich yet humble history (e.g. Changsin's sweatshops...). Seoul wants to make an example of their regeneration...
- 27) Garibong-dong in Guro-gu: the first plans to redevelop the village date from 2003. A couple of years ago, 5 sections were defined for either destruction or rehabilitation, with a few landmarks for the Chinese community. Given security issues in the neighborhood, the multiplication of CCTV is a given, but hopefully, it seems that the focus is now on reviving street life through softer means.
Seoul Village 2015
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Here's one of my favorite Seoul villages. If you take a Nowon-gu map, it's easily recognizable as the only area with a crooked shape in an ocean of neat appartment blocks. That's actually how I spotted it for the first time, and I wasn't disapointed by the place, one of Seoul's last typical "moon villages" ("달동네") with a soul of its own and an almost rural lifestyle. I took this picture* of kids playing there exactly seven years ago, and I remember the red peppers drying up on the streets, or the old people inviting us for a chat on their mat at a fork in the road.
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