Four towers to replace existing apartment complex with 900 new homes
Heatherwick Studio has unveiled its designs for four residential towers in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
The 900-home Daegyo scheme, the firm’s first residential project in the country, will replace an existing 576-home apartment complex on the site which was built in 1975.
Heatherwick Studio founder Thomas Heatherwick personally presented the proposals to the existing site’s residents’ union on Saturday.
The practice said its design for the new development, which include a sky garden and public ground floor space, will stand in stark contrast to the “sterile” style of many high-rise apartment complexes seen around the world.
The scheme’s four towers have been inspired by natural forms including the silhouettes of the mountains surrounding Seoul, which are echoed in the undulating rooflines of the proposed buildings.
Images of the scheme show a series of landscaped gardens at ground level with sheltered walkways and sunken courtyards offering “moments of respite and surprise”.
The reveal of the proposals comes after a survey of 1,000 Seoul residents by Heatherwick Studio’s Humanise Campaign found 97% of respondents thought of apartment complex buildings as “boring and soulless”.
Heesun Chung, chairperson of the Yeouido Daegyo Apartment Redevelopment Association, said: “We’re excited about how this development will improve the daily lives of residents.
She added: “This vision reflects the contributions of more than 600 union members, and the design unveiled today is the result of that collaborative effort. We hope Daegyo becomes a significant chapter in Heatherwick Studio’s residential work in Korea – a place that lasts and is loved for generations.”
Stuart Wood, executive partner at Heatherwick Studio, added: “We want this design to spark a fundamental rethink of how apartment living in Seoul should look, feel, and support everyday life.
“For too long, residents have had to accept endless repetitions of anonymous high-rise blocks. The need for change is now unmistakable. We believe people are ready for places that are more soulful, more unique, and deeply human.”
Heatherwick Studio’s other projects in the country include the redesign of Nodeul Island, the Hanwha Galleria shopping complex and the CoEx Convention Centre.
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