Monday, December 7, 2015 2:30 pm
-
2:30 pm
EST (GMT -05:00)
Of
the
thesis
entitled:ÌýThe
Making
of
Chang-ShinÌýDistrict
:
A
Study
in
Top-Down
and
Bottom-Up
Urban
Development
Abstract:
This
thesisÌýstudies
the
process
of
urban
development
as
a
mass
phenomenon
involvingÌýtop-downÌýandÌýbottom-upÌýparadigms,
which
work
as
a
whole
to
achieve
distinctÌýcharacteristics
seen
in
urban
neighbourhoods.
In
this
study,
the
top-downÌýparadigm
describes
the
ways
in
which
the
governing
authorities
frame
aÌýneighbourhood’s
development
by
controlling
major
urban
factors
affecting
theÌýoverall
city,
whereas
the
bottom-up
paradigm
describes
the
ways
in
whichÌýindividuals
collectively
build
up
their
own
neighbourhood
through
emergentÌýpatterns
resulting
from
the
decisions
of
each
resident.
In
the
final
analysis,Ìýthe
workings
of
top-down
and
bottom-up
urban
development
can
be
described
as
aÌýcooperative
process,
where
the
on-going
dialogue
between
the
two
paradigmsÌýallow
them
to
work
synergistically.
As a key place ofÌýindustry and commerce throughout Seoul’s history, Chang-Shin has maintained itsÌýhistorical and cultural characteristics even in the midst of the powerfulÌýforces of modernization that have changed the face of the city as a wholeÌýduring the twentieth century. Remarking on the district’s uniqueÌýcharacteristics and its complex urban structure, this thesis probes aroundÌýthree questions: how did the district come to be? How does it function now? AndÌýhow could the existing urban characteristics be effectively utilized to enrichÌýthe urban life in the district?
The intent behindÌýthe thesis is to analyze the rich and intricate urban phenomena observed inÌýChang-Shin, and further, to propose a design strategy that could improve theÌýuse of the district as a whole through working with local, small-scaleÌýcomponents within the existing urban environment. The design proposalÌýdistinctly focuses on public space as a key urban element where both the urbanÌýcharacteristics and social functions of the district are most stronglyÌýmanifested, highlighting the advantages of the bottom-up paradigm in fosteringÌýthe cultural character of a given space, as well as those of the top-downÌýparadigm in providing overall assessments of the district, out of which moreÌýsubstantial levels of resources and commitments can then be directed andÌýfocused. At a time when the cultural authenticity of Seoul’s urban environmentÌýhas diminished drastically, current management of Chang-Shin could lead eitherÌýto the gain orÌýloss of the meaningful cultural heritage in the city.
The examining committee is as follows:
Ìý
As a key place ofÌýindustry and commerce throughout Seoul’s history, Chang-Shin has maintained itsÌýhistorical and cultural characteristics even in the midst of the powerfulÌýforces of modernization that have changed the face of the city as a wholeÌýduring the twentieth century. Remarking on the district’s uniqueÌýcharacteristics and its complex urban structure, this thesis probes aroundÌýthree questions: how did the district come to be? How does it function now? AndÌýhow could the existing urban characteristics be effectively utilized to enrichÌýthe urban life in the district?
The intent behindÌýthe thesis is to analyze the rich and intricate urban phenomena observed inÌýChang-Shin, and further, to propose a design strategy that could improve theÌýuse of the district as a whole through working with local, small-scaleÌýcomponents within the existing urban environment. The design proposalÌýdistinctly focuses on public space as a key urban element where both the urbanÌýcharacteristics and social functions of the district are most stronglyÌýmanifested, highlighting the advantages of the bottom-up paradigm in fosteringÌýthe cultural character of a given space, as well as those of the top-downÌýparadigm in providing overall assessments of the district, out of which moreÌýsubstantial levels of resources and commitments can then be directed andÌýfocused. At a time when the cultural authenticity of Seoul’s urban environmentÌýhas diminished drastically, current management of Chang-Shin could lead eitherÌýto the gain orÌýloss of the meaningful cultural heritage in the city.
The examining committee is as follows:
Ìý
Supervisor:
RickÌýAndrighetti, University ofÌýÀ¶Ý®ÊÓƵ
CommitteeÌýMembers:
Adrian
Blackwell,
University
of
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ
Val
Rynnimeri,
University
of
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ
Ìý
Ìý
External Reader:
Donald Chong, WilliamsonÌýChong Architects
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
The
Defence
Examination
will
take
place:
Ìý
Monday
December
7,
2015
2:30PM
ARC
2026
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.