RE- CNSTRRCCT

16/06/27-16/07/11

As part of my work around Sewoon Sangga and the environment within which Cabinet Seoul is located, I decided to build on ideas based on the area's architectural and historical background while keeping in mind recent plans for its revitalization.

Architect Kim Soo Geun's plans for this Modernist building were executed during a phase of redevelopment in 1966-1967, this 1 km stretch between Jongno and Toegyero was the first commercial-residential complex in Seoul and at the time, it was seen to be revolutionary in its understanding of a multi-utility space. In the coming decades, because of the change in focus of the next round of development to south of the Han River, it remained as a partly demolished building having lost much of its initial character and importance.

Although the building was criticized for being built in a way that overlooked the context of its surroundings, it has slowly evolved into being a symbol of the first wave of rapid growth in Seoul. Currently, the area around it continues to develop into a bustling metropolis losing much of the local character quite rapidly. I am interested in the questions that arise from this aspect of urban renewal and seemingly unavoidable gentrification.

Through fragmentation, partial abstraction and repeating patterns, I am reflecting on the idea of spatiality within the larger context of how the balance between conserving the local context (both architecturally as well as historically) and boosting economic development will be handled during the impending 'revitalization' of this area.