Apartment or Theme Park? From Protruding Terraces to Unmanned Shuttles... Alternative Design for Apgujeong 3 District with 5.5 Trillion Won Construction Cost

Selected as Preferred Negotiation Partner for Reconstruction Contractor

Hyundai Engineering & Construction publicly released the alternative design it proposed to the Apgujeong 3 District Reconstruction Association, which is currently pursuing a reconstruction project, on April 22.

This project is a large-scale redevelopment initiative that will rebuild 3,934 households—including Hyundai Apartments Phases 1 to 7, 10, 13, and 14, as well as Daelim Villat—into a new complex with up to 65 floors and 5,175 households. It is located in the most prime area of the Apgujeong apartment district and is one of the largest projects in scale. Construction costs alone amount to 5.561 trillion won (excluding VAT). By comparison, the Dunchon Jugong reconstruction, which involved over 10,000 new households, saw its construction cost increase several times but remained in the 4 trillion won range. Hyundai Engineering & Construction had previously been selected as the preferred negotiation partner after submitting solo bids in two rounds of contractor selection.

An image of a demand-responsive transportation system to be applied in the redevelopment project of Apgujeong 3 District. Provided by Hyundai Construction

Hyundai Engineering & Construction proposed a vision to expand the local identity into an integrated urban concept. Specifically, the company emphasized landmark design. The plan, developed in collaboration with global architectural firms RAMSA and Morphosis, highlights Han River views for each household. Every unit will feature a protruding terrace, and three-sided open corner windows will be installed. The design allows for views from the master bedroom, children's rooms, and even the bathrooms. To create a pleasant indoor impression, a 3-meter-high tray ceiling will be applied throughout the interiors.

The shared community facilities for residents are proposed as a theme park-style structure. An extra-large community space named 'Club Apgujeong' will be constructed, linking indoor and outdoor areas. The signature facility, 'The Circle One,' will integrate indoor landscaped walking trails, large-scale community amenities, and a route for a demand-responsive (DRT) unmanned shuttle in an organic manner. To enhance the competitiveness of the community brand, the company has also applied for a trademark related to 'The Circle.'

Landmark design image proposed by Hyundai Construction to the Apgujeong 3 District Reconstruction Association. Provided by Hyundai Construction

The company also emphasized the application of robotics technology throughout the complex. The DRT unmanned shuttle can be summoned by residents at any desired time and location, transporting them between community spaces, commercial facilities, and key destinations near the complex. Robotics technology will also be applied to the smart parking system, contactless delivery robots, disaster response infrastructure, and 24-hour security management.

In addition, an ecological forest connecting to the Han River will be created, with extensive green spaces, inner courtyards, and gardens distributed throughout the complex. Hyundai Engineering & Construction will collaborate with overseas landscaping firms GPB and Greenwise. For differentiated residential services, features such as a hotel-style drop-off zone, privacy-conscious circulation paths, and healthcare services will also be included. A company official stated, "By integrating top-tier design, future technologies, and a differentiated lifestyle, we aim to create a new standard for residential living—a city in itself."

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