Easier than Apgujeong Reconstruction... Over 50-Story Super High-Rise & Maximum Floor Area Ratio 300% (Comprehensive)

Conversion to District Unit Plan in Apartment District

Reconstruction of aging apartments in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, will become easier. As the Apgujeong Apartment District is converted into a district unit plan for the first time in 47 years, regulations on height, usage, and other factors will be relaxed, enabling integrated development. Like Zones 2 to 5, where reconstruction plans have already been confirmed through rapid integrated planning, Zones 1 and 6 will also be allowed a maximum floor area ratio of 300%, permitting buildings of around 50 floors.

On the 14th, Seoul City announced that it had approved a revised plan to convert the Apgujeong Apartment District into a district unit planning zone at the Urban and Architecture Joint Committee meeting held the previous day.

This district unit plan includes provisions to accommodate various demands when establishing reconstruction maintenance plans and relaxes various regulations set in 1976 on apartment districts, such as building usage, density, and height.

According to the plan, Seoul City will manage the area by dividing it into Special Planning Zones 1 to 6 to foster the creation of large-scale residential complexes through creative architectural planning. Additionally, residential use will be allowed in central facility sites that previously served commercial functions within the apartment district. Furthermore, non-residential buildings, which were previously not permitted on development residual sites, will now be allowed.

However, allowing residential use on central facility sites requires review by the relevant committee, and a public contribution of 5 to 10% is necessary, considering the development gains (land price increases) arising from permitting residential use.

All Zones 1 to 6 will apply a standard floor area ratio of 230% and a legal maximum of 300%, allowing construction of buildings up to approximately 50 floors. With the introduction of the district unit plan, it is expected that Apgujeong Zones 1 and 6, which did not participate in rapid integrated planning, will accelerate their reconstruction efforts. Once reconstruction in all Zones 1 to 6 is completed, a 'mini new town' with a total of 10,466 households will be established.

Seoul City plans to finalize and announce the Apgujeong Apartment District unit plan in the second half of the year after a public re-inspection by residents.

A Seoul City official stated, "The transition to a district unit plan will allow flexible responses to changes in urban and social conditions, establish a harmonious and integrated urban management system with surrounding areas, and is expected to activate housing supply."

Meanwhile, apartment districts were designated in the 1970s and 1980s to alleviate housing shortages by creating large-scale apartment complexes. However, since land use plans focused mainly on housing supply and infrastructure plans were flat, there were difficulties in proceeding with reconstruction projects. For example, only housing could be built on residential land within existing apartment districts, and commercial facilities within complexes were not allowed, making it difficult to accommodate diverse demands of modern cities such as mixed-use residential and commercial buildings.

On the other hand, urban management tools used in district unit plans, such as building setback lines, public pedestrian pathways, and three-dimensional connections of public facilities, are also applied in maintenance plans, making it easier to establish reconstruction plans. Accordingly, Seoul City has been promoting the transition to district unit plans.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.