Sewoon Cheonggyecheon Sangga 세 운 청 계 천 상 가 _ Master of Architecture Thesis Design Report

세 운 청 계 천 상 가

Sewoon Cheonggyecheon Sangga Explore alternatives for conserving post-war modern architecture in South Korea

Thesis Design Journal

Master of Architecture At the National University of Singapore Tan Junwei Jason A0147772W

Content Page

Motivations

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Site

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Background & Issues

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Chapter 1: Erection of Sewoon Sangga

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Chapter 2: Criticism & Debate

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Chapter 3: Design Intervention & Strategy

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Chapter 4: Master Plans

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Chapter 5: Building Level Intervention

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Model

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Acknowledgement

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Bilbliography

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Motivations

To foreigners, Seoul is just a capital of Korea. However, for Koreans, Seoul is a rapidly changing city that is losing its tradition. This thesis aims to explore alternatives for conserving post-war modern architecture in South Korea, specifically at Sewoon Sangga.

Seoul had undergone numerous urban transformations through the annexation by the Japanese Colonial as well as during the post-war period.

In order to accommodate urban growth as well as symbolise the nation’s rapid progress, many large-scale urban projects were showcased in the pursuit of modernization. One of such cases was Sewoon Sangga.

Sewoon Sangga consists of a series of four blocks, and was the first modern building built that provided new modern lifestyle and urban form in the rapidly changing Korea. It was a major development during Seoul’s urban modernisation period. However, after standing tall for almost 60 years, it has evoked much criticism and debate regarding the demolition of the building for future development.

Recognizing the rich historical monumentality of this building, this thesis rediscovers the historical significance of Sewoon Sangga by ploughing through its historical urban fabric, to give meaning and value to conservation. The intervention eventually took the form of a high-tech mix-used hypermarket- a detailed design scheme that focuses on one of the buildings, Sewoon Cheonggyecheon Sangga.

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Site

The site study is located in Seoul, Korea. The main focus will be in Euljiro, a site with rich history, situated between a historical site, Jongmyo Shrine and a natural green Namsan Mountain.

In accordance with geomantic principles, the royal ancestral shrine and the national altars for the gods of earth and crops must be built on an auspicious site. Influenced by the topography layout of the mountains and rivers, the Jongmyo Shrine was one of the first few buildings to be built alongside with the main palace.

Due to the influenced from the Chinese city model, there was an importance in the North-South axis, evident in Beijing, as it was considered as ‘auspicious’ and functioned as a ‘mental’ axis.

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Hence, it was evident to see main roads that run along the North-South axis, which also connects the Jongmyo Shrine at the north and Namsan Mountain at the south. While the East-West axis roads run across the east side of the city to the west connecting the East gate and West gate.

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Settlements at the area were mostly built in wood. Hence, a 1km land with 50m width was cleared by the Japanese to set as a buffer zone between plot of land to prevent fire from spreading when there was a bombing during the war. In 1945, the site was cleared, and existing tenants were forced to leave. After the war, the site was dominated by unauthorized settlements and temporary shacks built by migrants. In 1952, the site was designated for urban planning site, which later transformed into Sewoon Sangga. The development started to create traffic congestions around the area.

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Present

After the war, Seoul continue to develop in a rapid pace. Major clean up and restoration were done by the destruction during the war. More historical sites were restored and open to public as attractions. Public networks are more advanced, and it is easily accessible from one place to another.

Korea took the opportunity to clear the “dirty� sight away by clearing migrants away and built massive building blocks, Sewoon Sangga, onto the available land. The land that was cleared during the war was developed into a mix-used complex, Sewoon Sangga, with residential and commercial spaces in a building block.

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Figure Ground

There are more smaller roads while the major roads remain along the axis. The figure ground shows the high density in a small cluster area. A long block of buildings cuts through the urban fabric.

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Programme, 1980 & 2003

There was a huge change in programme from the 1980s to 2003. In 1980, the site seems like a small town with residential taking up most of the area. Restaurants were also present to cater to the resident.

However, in 2003, the site turns into an industrial site as more of the residential and restaurants transformed to service and industrial workshops. Thus, the lifestyle of the site changes overtime.

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Programme, 2015

The image shows the programme in 2015. There are distinct clusters in the area with majority of them are printing services. Despite the massive building blocks penetrating through the urban fabric, the programme in the blocks have some relation to the surrounding clusters, as if it was a conveyor belt system that coexist with one another.

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Programme, (sectional representation)

The programme in the massive building blocks, Sewoon Sangga, changes over time as well. In the past, it was a mix-used building with both residential at the top and commercial at the bottom. However, overtime, due to newer apartment built, residents started shifting out. Residential homes were transformed to offices.

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Existing Programme

Each block of Sewoon Sangga have different programme, while being connect by an elevated walking deck on the third level. Hence, one can walk from Sewoon Plaza to Jinyang Plaza on the elevated deck without travelling on the ground floor.

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Transportation System

The site is very accessible as it is surrounded by different metro lines. Line 2, green line, is one of the main metro lines that cater to people going to the city centres, City Hall. There is also an underground shopping centre, which coincidently pushed forward by the mayor of Seoul at that time, Kim Hyun Ok, runs along Line 2 which connects City Hall Stations to Dongdaemun Station, Korea palaces and City centres to Zaha Hadid’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Hence, making the site a prime location for future development that will help generate more economic benefits.

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Site Typology

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1. Small Dense Area Small cluster of small buildings clustered together with no proper planning. Buildings are low buildings, usually one to three stories, are built to maximise the land area and connected by a narrow alley, forming an unorganised and organic circulation.

2. Massive Block A massive block building, Sewoon Sangga, cuts through the urban fabric acting as a “barrier� between building clusters. The massive block forms a structured straightforward circulation that cuts though an organic circulation. Roads are also diverted that prevents vehicle from going to the opposite cluster. There is also huge proportion difference between the massive buildings and the surrounding buildings, hence the non-harmonious condition between the neighbouring building clusters.

3. Grid Buildings are dense and built in a grid. Buildings in this clusters have a distinct difference between the shop front and the back. Shop fronts are facing the small road while the back is connected though a narrow alley or adjacent to another building. Such morphology is usually planned after the War period when there was a significant importance in urban planning.

Circulation is more structured and organised.

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Erection of Sewoon Sangga

Under the military government led by President Park Jeong Hee, together with the newly appointed mayor of Seoul Kim Hyun Ok (the bulldozer) in 1966, and architect Kim Soo Geun, the three individuals worked together to address the lack of provisions for the growing urban population.

With further major events like the 1986 Asian Games and 1988 Soul Olympics, it had higher demand and focus on the development of Seoul.

One of the major developments was located in the heart of a historic city and was also a major turning point of urban modernization of Seoul was the Sewoon Sangga Complex, the first major development in Seoul’s urban modernisation period.

Architect Kim Soo Geun, an enthusiastic admirer of Le Corbusier, studied in Tokyo Art University in 1953, under professor Junzo Yoshimura had worked in Japan for 9 years before returning to Korea. Hence, he had influenced both from the western urban modernism like Le Corbusier and Team X’s urban theories, and Japanese trends into Korea’s urban planning

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Architect Kim Soo Geun

President Park Jeong Hee at the opening of Sewoon Sangga

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Sewoon Sangga with Surrounding Context

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In front of Jongmyo Shrine,1967

In front of Jongmyo Shrine,1970

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Section of Sewoon Sangga

Kim Soo Geun is the architect responsible for the construction for Sewoon Shopping Complex. Being influenced by the western ideology of modernism and Japanese post-war influence, metabolism, some of their theories can be seen in Sewoon Sangga. Architect Kim envisioned the buildings to be a series of concrete vertical micro village borrowing from projects such as Le Corbusier’s Le’Corbusier’s Unite d’ habitation, Kenzo Tange’s 1960 Tokyo Bay Planning and Alison and Peter Smithson’s Golden Lane.

The height of the buildings varies but the material and floor datum speak the same language. Contrasting from the monotonous look of the exterior, the internal has a dense organisation, filled with different functions and programmes with commercial on the lower floors and residential on the upper floors of the building.

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Facilities in Sewoon Sangga

The facilities include modern activities such as education and offices, wedding hall, barber shop, restaurant, sauna, hotel, bank, supermarkets, exhibition hall and residential facilities. Hence, it was the biggest premium shopping mall in the city centre at that time.

In a way, Sewoon Sangga, a mix-used complex, was an expression of Korea’s growing modernity

Construction board of Sewoon Sangga

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Le’Corbusier’s Unite d’ habitation

Alison & Peter Smithson, Golden Lane

Despite the similarity and influenced of Le’Corbusier’s Unite d’ habitation modern architecture, Architect Kim design the spaces at the top to taper as it goes up, to provide different spatial quality that was different from Unite d’ habitation, giving a little essence of Korea’s reality by providing nature space and reducing the psychological enclosure. However, the design was not reflected.

The Master Plan also looks into installing an elevated walkway that reflects with Alison and Peter Smithson “streets in the air” theory. However, only part of the walkway was constructed due to financial issues.

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First Building Plans for Sewoon Sangga

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Building Elevations for Sewoon Sangga

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Building Section for Sewoon Sangga

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Criticism & Debate

Sewoon Sangga continues to stand tall in the location for half a century which leads to an increase of debate and criticism. With its dominance and size, it became an eyesore to the cityscape. Some had even label it as a vertical slum due to its condition.

Sewoon Shopping design was also built over a green axis which Seoul is already lacking.

Secondly, the megastructure causes disconnection between the EastWest axis, causing lanes to be cut off.

Thirdly, was the deactivation of the elevated walking deck. The people do not like to take the trouble to climb up high stairs to access the elevated walkway. Also, there was no design in creating an atmosphere that will attract people to go up.

“Vertical Slum�

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Redevelopment Plan in 2003

High Rise Development In addition, in 2003, the debate of redeveloping the site through tabula rasa, a complete demolition of Sewoon Sangga and replaced it with a green belt.

In a way, creating a vibrant street-centered urban area that will accommodate and coexist with the surrounding high-rise buildings but was not realised because of the Jongmyo heritage which resulted on the height plan limitations.

In 2006, after the restoration of Cheonggyecheon Stream, further plan to reorganise the spatial structure of the city by a new urban renewal masterplan for Seoul to demolish the buildings and convert it into a green culture axis similarly to as the “second Cheonggyecheon�. However, it was also not realised.

Green Belt Development

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Redevelopment Plan from 1995 - 2013

A green belt network that connects throughout Seoul

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Master Plan for Sewoon Sangga District

High rise development

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Proposal by City Government

The Mayor of South Korea wanted to expand the green ring, which is the same border line as the old fortress wall, to allow for cheaper housing to be built along the peripheral of Seoul as the land in Seoul is expensive.

However, the Mayor of Seoul rejected the idea as it would mean to destroy the historical fortress wall. Instead, he increased the Gross Floor Area within Seoul to make up for the lack of housing.

Also, as more of the tenant are getting older, many had decided to retire and lease out their shops. Some had also sold their spaces back to the government. The government have been “collecting� back spaces and convert those spaces into a public space, like a gallery space.

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Design Intervention & Strategy

The strategy is to design the different phase of development when more tenants started to sell their spaces to the government. The phase includes the year 2020, 2035 and the final predicition of 2050.

The strategy is to consider the harmony of urban scale and human scale.

Firstly, to connect the North-South axis, bridging the Jongmyo Shrine with Namsan Mountain, allowing for a green belt on the North-South Axis and a Blue belt on the East-West axis, the Cheonggyechong Stream.

The connection will then continue to link towards the Seoul Station where Seoul-lo 7017 is, an elevated skypark built atop of a former highway, creating a network that connects throughout Seoul.

Secondly, to punch throught the building fabric to ‘unclog’ the connection of the East-West clusters by freeing up the ground floor and reconnect the circulation path. Hence, the circulation from the East-West axis will be more profound.

Lastly, to retain the main element of the buildings, the elevated walkways. Hence, allowing for both the engagement on the ground floor as well as the upper floors, bridging connection between neighboring buildings.

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Clusters

Historical Cluster (Red)

Due to the rich historical and cultural values of the site, the Master Plan looks into the historical elements and cluster the buildings into different categories. With the historical site of the Jongmyo Shrine and Cheonggeyeon Stream at the north, the buildings at the north are clustered under the ‘Historical Cluster’.

Buildings under this cluster are to be retained as much as possible keeping its original building fabric. With such strong historical and monumental area, it informs a formal space. Hence, activities or spaces are in a formal domain such as a working spaces.

Nature Cluster (Green) Buildings located closer to the Namsan Mountain, are clustered under the ‘Nature Cluster’ due to the rich in natural form of the mountain. Hence, other than the structures that will be supporting the elevated walkway, the rest of the building will be demolished.

In a way, the hardscape transformed into softscape, like how the palace gate and Cheonggyecheon Stream had transformed into their “original state”. In this case, transformed back into the softscape, the empty plot of buffer zone lane. The empty land will then be planted with greeneries, forming an informal space or park that connects to Namsan Mountain.

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Clusters

Recreational Cluster (Yellow)

Recreational Cluster is the between space of both the Historical Cluster and Nature Cluster. This cluster is determined by over layering the chronological route maps. (seen in page 43) By doing so, the area in the past shows a significant value to the site as the plot of land continues to remain untouched despite the surrounding routes were already developed.

This could be due to the importance of the area as the layers of the route show the circulation paths walked around the area. In the past, the activity on that plot of land was a market, hence, it could indicate that the market was of great importance, resulting in the route to be the last to be developed.

Therefore, the market a semi-formal space should be continued to the future’s fabric since it had gone through a long history, resulting the between space to be a recreational space.

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Over layering of Historical Layers

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Master Plan, 2020

Reconnection The strategy for Year 2020 is to reconnect all the 4 blocks of building though the elevated walkway. Hence, creating a seamless connection along the North-South Axis.

Tenant will continue to sell their spaces to the government for redevelopment.

Surrounding buildings started construction for high rise development.

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Master Plan, 2035

Breaking Down Based on the different clusters, floor levels will break down from private to public spaces.

Majority of the tenants had sold their spaces to the government for redevelopment.

High rise buildings will start to erect around Sewoon Sangga.

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Master Plan, 2050

Giving Back The Master plan envisions the buildings as a bridge similarly with past where there were villages living along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, the bridge was part of the everyday life of the people.

Rather than just a bridge that provides a passage over the stream, it was a favorite place for the people to congregate and an area for public space and for people to relax and engage with the other villages.

Hence, the idea of restoration of the elevated walkway not only to commemorate the North-South axis, which is prominent in the Pungsu (feng shui) axis, but to also to reconnect to the past activities and revoke the memory of the past. In a way, the buildings act as a public space for people to congregate but also facilities connected to the neighboring buildings.

By 2050, at least 95% of the spaces are owned by government and majority of the spaces will be converted into public spaces. The 4 blocks of buildings had transformed base on their clusters and will “serve� the surrounding buildings. Most of the functions and pogrammes will be kept similar to the existing so as to retain its DNA. Most of the surrounding buildings will be high rise residential buildings.

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Economic Viability Many conservation projects failed due to the economic viability after the new makeover. Questions have been raised on who will be responsible for the building; who are the stakeholders? Developer? Existing tenant?

Hence, the following pages look into the economic viability of Sewoon Project and how can conserving the buildings be sustainable.

The concept looks into the permanence in the time of change, which is Structure and Spatial Quality Hence, the initial stage looks into Skeletal Development, developing existing public spaces and maintain as much authenticity of the building experience. Over the time, the Buy and Built scheme takes place gradually, as more tenant selling their spaces to the government, allowing for more public spaces.

Rent of a 65 metre sqaure room is 3 times more expensive as compared to Sewoon Sangga with a similar room area

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Existing Building Condition, 2018 Organised Mess

Public to Private Area Ratio 1 : 9.32 KRW 3.406015 Billion SGD $ 4.116 Million

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Future Building Condition, 2035 Morphology Transformation

Tenants selling their spaces to the government

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Future Building Condition, 2050 Mix of Public and Private Spaces

Public to Private Area Ratio 1:3 KRW 1.095507 Billion SGD $ 1.323 Million

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Programme Transformation (Precedents)

‘-Bang’ which translates as Room in Korean. Korea is known as ‘a city of Bang’, a city of rooms, a typology of rooms with different functions for Koreans to go as a means of escape due to the lack of public space.

The lifestyle of Korean in the millennial is about the ‘-bang’ culture, room culture, a temporary and medium space in a form of private and public space defined by the people. Rooms such as Norae-bang (karaoke room), jimjil-bang (Korean bathhouse) PC bang (PC Room) and so on.

The invention looks into contemporary tradition activities and redefines the concept of room meaning, a private room in a private domain, private room in a semi-private domain/ semi-public domain, private room in a public domain.

Taking Jimjil-bang (Korean bathhouse) as an example, despite being an indoor space, however, the setting of the common space can be seen as a ‘Plaza’. A space where people with no age, sex or social requirements can congregate and relax, a ‘communal public space’, a social space that is slow pace. As compared to norae-bang (karaoke room), the pace of the activity is quicker as one has only a limited time to complete a song. The dynamism of the movement is also different.

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Programme Transformation (Precedents)

These liminal and middle spaces echo to the traditional Korean spaces as well. Courtyard spaces in a hanok, traditional Korean house, are not only seen as a green space, but also a threshold. A liminal space that you go to, to enter into another room/ space. The exterior and interior spaces are blurred.

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Programme Transformation (Precedents)

2020 Office space

2035 Office space // exhibition space

2050 Exhibition space // green space

Interior spaces transformed from private spaces to public spaces over the years. Public areas (in red) continues to expand and pockets of green spaces are erected.

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Programme Transformation Block 1

The building will be preserved as much as possible under the Historical Cluster. Programme includes Working studio, Hypermarket Warehouse, Exhibition Space and Retails

Block 2

Under the part Historical and Recreational cluster, building will conserve through adaptive reuse. Part of the building facade will be preserved as much as the original while having new interventions. Greenery is also use as a connector to bridge the building together. The elevated walkway will also act as a means for transportation of goods to neighboring buildings. Programme includes, Hypermarket, Sports studios and Retails

Block 3

Under the part Recreational and Nature Cluster, building will be conserved through adaptive reuse. Pockets of green spaces will emerge. The suana spaces will act as a connected to bring both, public spaces, such as recreational studio and private spaces, hotel guests, together.

Block 4

Under the part Nature Cluster, the building will conserve through demolition yet keeping the part of the main elements of the original building fabric, which is the elevated walkway. A glass box will be erected above the walkway while the demolished land will be populated with trees and plants, creating a park setting that blends to the Namsan Mountain.

Programme includes library, retail and park.

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Morphology Transformation

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Block 2, Sewoon Cheonggycheon Sangga

Hyper Market, Sport Studios, Retails

The design idea for block 2, under the part Historical and Recreational cluster, is to conserve through adaptive reuse. Part of the building facade will be preserved as much as the original while the interior plays with voids and threshold spaces.

The design also seeks to tap onto existing site context to enhance the building experience. Such intervention includes removing the roof sheltering the stream and to spill activities from the buildings onto the stream.

Greenery is also use as a connector to bridge the building together as it continues to spill into the buildings. The elevated walkway will also act as a means for transportation of goods to neighbouring buildings.

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Concept Diagram

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Exploded Isometric

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Different “rooms” Protruding within Greenery 62

“Street” - Respecting Urban Vista 63

Model Master Plan, 2018 Scale comparison between the 4 blocks and its surrounding. The 4 blocks are visible as the surrounding are low

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Model Master Plan, 2050 Scale comparison between the 4 blocks and its surrounding. High rise surrounding overshadowed the 4 blocks, giving a “canyon� effect. Elevated walkway continues to link towards surrounding buildings to provide connection around the district.

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Model Block 2, 2050 Contrast on the facade, showing the existing facade with the new facade. Greenery spills into the buildings, acting as a connector. First and second floors are lifted to provide for the lower ground connectivity by providing a park like setting.

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Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Professor Johannes Widodo, my thesis supervisor who has constantly provided me with valuable advice and knowledgeable guidance through my thesis journey.

My friends who have constantly provided me with constructive feedback and support.

Lastly, my most special gratitude to my family members with the selfless love and constant support.

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Bilbliography

Ana M.S. “How Did South Korea’s Economy Develop So Quickly?” St. Louis Fed. March 19, 2018. Accessed October 16, 2018. https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2018/ march/how-south-korea-economy-develop-quickly.

Colin M. “Story of Cities #50: The Reclaimed Stream Bringing Life to the Heart of Seoul.”

The Guardian. May 25, 2016. Accessed October 24, 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/ cities/2016/may/25/story-cities-reclaimed-stream-heart- seoul-cheonggyecheon.

Henry, A. Assimilating Seoul: Japanese Rule and the Politics of Public Space in Colonial Korea, 1910–1945.

“Historic Heritages.” 주요시설 | 청계천청계천즐기기편의시설안내종합안내도. Accessed November 26, 2018. https://www.sisul.or.kr/grobal/cheonggye /eng/WebContent/ sub_history.jsp?page=ceu050301.

Inc. “Cheonggye Stream Travel Guide - Seoul City, South Korea.” Life in Korea. Accessed November 01, 2018. http://www.lifeinkorea.com/travel2/seoul/417.

Jung, I.H. Architecture and Urbanism in Modern Korea. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2014.

Jung S.H. Japan in the Public Culture of South Korea, 1945–2000s: The Making and Remaking of Colonial Sites and Memories 1945-200, 2nd ser., 12, no. 15. (April 13 2014) “KCAP Wins International Design Competition ‘Sewoon District #4’ in Seoul, Korea |.”

World Landscape Architecture. September 13, 2017. Accessed November 2, 2018. https:// worldlandscapearchitect.com/kcap-wins-international-design-competition-sewoon-district-4-in-seoul-korea/#.W_r7NOgzaUk. Kim J.H. “[HISTORY FILE 세운상가50년 01-003 | 역사] 일제의 소개공지 작업 과 전후 광로3호.” 네이버 블로그 | 어떤 여행의 기록. October 4, 2016. Accessed November 18, 2018. https://m.blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=union_ex&logNo=220786774522&proxyReferer=https://www.google.com.sg/#.

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Kwak H.J. A Turning Point in Korea’s Urban Modernization: The Case of the Sewoon Sangga Development, November 2002.

Min H.S. “Sewun Mall Development Plan.” 서울아카이브 Seoul Solution. September 25, 2017. Accessed November 6, 2018. https://seoulsolution.kr/en/node/6304.

Ng S.F. “Seoul / The Identity as “Man of Nature” and Its Authenticity.” Department of Architecture: History & Theory: The City. December 21, 2015. Accessed October 24, 2018. http://fac.arch.hku.hk/asian-cities-research/seoul-the-identity-as-man-of-natureand-its-authenticity/.

“Regeneration Without Demolition: Remaking Sewoon.” Accessed November 16, 2018. https://www.clc.gov.sg/docs/default-source/reports/bc-2018-05-regeneration-without-demolition-remaking-sewoon.pdf.

Remmele V.M. “The Korean Version of Modernism.” Stylepark. November 6, 2011.

Accessed November 3, 2018. https://www.stylepark.com/en/news/the-korean-version-of-modernism. Rii H.U. Jongmyo (Royal Shrine): Iconography of Korea, (December 13, 2010).

Roy D. “Economic and Social Issues in South Korea.” East-West Center | Www.eastwestcenter.org. April 06, 2017. Accessed October 5, 2018. https://www.eastwestcenter.org/ research/visiting-fellow-programs/posco-visiting-fellowship-program/economic-and-social-aspects-of-korea-related-issues.

Yang Y.J. Korean Spirit in Creativity & Design. 종묘 앞에서 2000억원을 버린 ‘유령들의 개발’.” 한겨레. August 29, 2014. Accessed November 1, 2018. http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/653411. html#csidxd13411efde287de86a7c21ded007264. 세운상가50년 01-011 | 역사] 종묘 에메랄드시티.” 네이버 블로그 | 어떤 여 행의 기록. September 1, 2016. Accessed November 2, 2018. https://m.blog.naver.com/ union_ex/2208025 28137. 세운상가50년 01-003 | 역사] 일제의 소개공지 작업과 전후 광로3호.” 네이버 블로그 | 어떤 여행의 기록. August 13, 2014. Accessed October 26, 2018. https://m. blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=union_ex&logNo=220786774522&proxyReferer=https://www.google.com.sg/#.

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To foreigners, Seoul is just a capital of Korea. However, for Koreans, Seoul is a rapidly changing city that is losing its tradition. This thesis aims to explore alternatives for conserving post-war modern architecture in South Korea, specifically at Sewoon Sangga.

Seoul had undergone numerous urban transformations through the annexation by the Japanese Colonial as well as during the post-war period.

In order to accommodate urban growth as well as symbolise the nation’s rapid progress, many large-scale urban projects were showcased in the pursuit of modernization. One of such cases was Sewoon Sangga.

Sewoon Sangga consists of a series of four blocks, and was the first modern building built that provided new modern lifestyle and urban form in the rapidly changing Korea. It was a major development during Seoul’s urban modernisation period. However, after standing tall for almost 60 years, it has evoked much criticism and debate regarding the demolition of the building for future development.

Recognizing the rich historical monumentality of this building, this thesis rediscovers the historical significance of Sewoon Sangga by ploughing through its historical urban fabric, to give meaning and value to conservation. The intervention eventually took the form of a high-tech mix-used hypermarket- a detailed design scheme that focuses on one of the buildings, Sewoon Cheonggyecheon Sangga.