Wednesday, January 6, 2016 1:30 pm
-
1:30 pm
EST (GMT -05:00)
Of
the
thesis
entitled:ÌýRe-imaginingÌýthe
Compound:
Regeneration
of
Block
Urbanism
in
Seoul
ÌýÌý
Abstract:
SouthÌýKorea
is
a
country
where
the
national
landscape
is
dominated
by
endless
horizonÌýof
high-rise
apartment
blocks.
This
is
especially
true
in
the
capital
city
ofÌýSeoul,
where
about
half
of
the
country’s
population
currently
reside1.ÌýThese
apartments
were
built
during
the
post-Korean
War
era
of
explosiveÌýeconomic
and
population
growth
and
answered
the
needs
of
the
emerging
middleÌýclass,
who
desired
a
convenient
and
modern
living
above
all
else.
The
keyÌýcharacteristic
of
apartments
in
South
Korea
is
that
they
are
designed
toÌýfunction
as
a
compound,
following
the
planning
model
of
Clarence
Perry’sÌýNeighbourhood
Unit.
Such
spatial
organization
demarcated
a
new
territory
of
theÌýmiddleÌýclass
economically,
socially,
and
spatially.
By
the
1980s,
apartmentsÌýhad
become
a
symbol
of
status
and
wealth,
and
housing
a
mere
commodity
forÌýcapitalistic
gain.
Ìý
AccordingÌýto Statistics Korea, more than half of country’s population now live in theseÌýapartments as of 20152. With new apartment compounds still sproutingÌýthroughout the country, this block urbanism is spreading at full force evenÌýafter six decades after its first introduction. Such proliferation raises anÌýurgent question: how can the city function if a single, homogeneous andÌýinflexible typology that only serves a specific socio-economic layer of theÌýsocietyÌýcompletely dominates its landscape? The problem is exacerbated as SouthÌýKorea is experiencing a substantial demographic shift with one of the lowestÌýbirth rates in the world as well as a rapidly aging population. As theÌýapartmentÌýblocks are mostly designed for a middle class family of four andÌýbuilt with a rigid concrete box frame structure, they are physically unable toÌýrespond to this change in demographic in their current form.
Ìý
AsÌýthe block urbanism is still prevalent not only in South Korea, but also in theÌýEastern Hemisphere, re-imagining these blocks is paramount to the globalÌýdiscussion regarding the future of our cities. How can the architecture andÌýurbanÌýdesign of block urbanism be adapted to meet the shifting needs of theÌýtime while breaking down the inherent economical, social, and spatial barrier?ÌýThe thesis explores both the social and spatial challenges of apartmentÌýcompoundsÌýand proposes a series of design schemes of different spatialÌýqualities, re-imagining the compound as a diverse, inclusive, and responsiveÌýneighbourhood.
The examining committee is as follows:
Ìý
Ìý
AccordingÌýto Statistics Korea, more than half of country’s population now live in theseÌýapartments as of 20152. With new apartment compounds still sproutingÌýthroughout the country, this block urbanism is spreading at full force evenÌýafter six decades after its first introduction. Such proliferation raises anÌýurgent question: how can the city function if a single, homogeneous andÌýinflexible typology that only serves a specific socio-economic layer of theÌýsocietyÌýcompletely dominates its landscape? The problem is exacerbated as SouthÌýKorea is experiencing a substantial demographic shift with one of the lowestÌýbirth rates in the world as well as a rapidly aging population. As theÌýapartmentÌýblocks are mostly designed for a middle class family of four andÌýbuilt with a rigid concrete box frame structure, they are physically unable toÌýrespond to this change in demographic in their current form.
Ìý
AsÌýthe block urbanism is still prevalent not only in South Korea, but also in theÌýEastern Hemisphere, re-imagining these blocks is paramount to the globalÌýdiscussion regarding the future of our cities. How can the architecture andÌýurbanÌýdesign of block urbanism be adapted to meet the shifting needs of theÌýtime while breaking down the inherent economical, social, and spatial barrier?ÌýThe thesis explores both the social and spatial challenges of apartmentÌýcompoundsÌýand proposes a series of design schemes of different spatialÌýqualities, re-imagining the compound as a diverse, inclusive, and responsiveÌýneighbourhood.
The examining committee is as follows:
Ìý
Co-Supervisors:
Adrian
Blackwell,
University
of
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ
Maya
Przybylski,
University
of
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ
CommitteeÌýMember:
Lola
Sheppard,
University
of
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ
External Reader:
Graeme Stewart, ERA Architects
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
The
Defence
Examination
will
take
place:
Ìý
Wednesday
January
6,
2016
1:30PM
ARC
LoftÌý
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.