Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a 30,000-square-meter park in one of Seoul's historic districts, opened to the public last week.
To establish the development's status as a cultural hub and catalyst for innovation, city officials hosted Seoul Fashion Week at the flowing, futuristic multiplex. In the coming months, the DDP will host five separate art and design exhibitions, according to Zaha Hadid Architects.
The public spaces within the DDP include a design museum, children's education center, and media center, as well as convention and exhibition halls.
The park sections incorporate concepts of traditional Korean garden design, like horizontality, layering, and fusing the interior and exterior spaces. Ultimately, no single feature is meant to dominate the design, according to Hadid.
Historic painting traditions depict aspects of nature to further the association between the park and those traditional design principles.
The DDP integrates the park and the plaza, intending to be a "green oasis" in the midst of urban Dongdaemun, the firm said.
The exterior envelope comprises more than 45,000 metal panels varying in size and curvature. It incorporates a range of perforation and pixelation patterns in order to create dynamic visual effects that change with the season and time of day. At certain times, the façade appears as a solid sheet of metal; at others, it seems to be made up of moving parts, according to the blog ILikeArchitecture.
Before DDP's construction, archaelogical and cultural artifacts were discovered in the area. DDP is built around these, as well as an ancient wall still standing in the area.
"These historic features form the central element of DDP's composition: linking the park, plaza, and city together," said the architect.
Related Stories
Architects | Mar 1, 2017
Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta receive the 2017 Pritzker Architecture Prize
2017 marks the first time that three architects together are honored with the prize.
Architects | Feb 27, 2017
AIA selects four individuals to receive the 2017 Associates Award
The AIA Associates Award is given to individual Associate AIA members to recognize outstanding leaders and creative thinkers for significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession.
Architects | Feb 24, 2017
14 architects selected to receive the 2017 Young Architects Award
Young Architects are defined as professionals who have been licensed 10 years or fewer regardless of their age.
Architects | Feb 20, 2017
Take an architecture class taught by Frank Gehry
The starchitect will be teaching a course for MasterClass, an online education platform.
Architects | Feb 16, 2017
16 design trends from Gensler’s 2017 Design Forecast
Gensler examines how design will shape the human experience in the next year and beyond.
Architects | Feb 14, 2017
NCARB streamlines path to certification for architects
Architects without a degree from an accredited program can pursue NCARB certification through a new path.
Designers | Feb 1, 2017
Netflix design documentary series to feature Bjarke Ingels
Abstract: The Art of Design will delve into the artistic processes of various influential designers.
Architects | Jan 27, 2017
The Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship and Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA, honored with the 2017 Collaborative Achievement Award
Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA and the Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship receive the 2017 Collaborative Acievement Award.
Architects | Jan 26, 2017
Alan Greenberger, FAIA, honored with the 2017 AIA Thomas Jefferson Award
The award honors significant contributions to public architecture.
Architects | Jan 24, 2017
Politicians use architectural renderings in bid to sell Chicago’s Thompson Center
The renderings are meant to show the potential of the site located in the heart of the Chicago Loop.