Up to 35-Story, 1,900-Unit New Apartment Complex to Be Built in Hawolgok-dong Area
by Im Onyu
Published 14 Apr.2023 06:00(KST)
The area around 70-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, will be transformed into a newly built apartment complex with up to 35 floors and 1,900 households through a rapid integrated planning project. This area is set to be reborn as an urban green space with an open landscape that organically connects with its surroundings while securing abundant cultural spaces.
The target site is a mixed area of aging low-rise houses and small neighborhood living facilities, lacking green spaces and convenient living amenities. In particular, the narrow, irregular alleys naturally formed along the former Wolgokcheon stream have been maintained, causing inconvenience in daily life and limiting small-scale maintenance projects at the street level. In response to residents’ demands for more fundamental environmental improvements, the site was selected as a candidate for rapid integrated planning, putting the redevelopment project on track.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government focused on the fact that the site is located between elementary, middle, and high schools, large-scale apartment complexes, Odong Park, and the soon-to-be-opened Dongbuk Line new station. The planning emphasized creating a community that is organically connected to its surroundings and allows residents to enjoy green and cultural facilities together.
According to the plan, the area around 70-1 Hawolgok-dong will be reborn as a ‘green complex in the city with abundant cultural spaces and an open landscape’ (35 floors, 1,900 households). To realize this, four major planning principles were established.
First, the entire complex is designed to function like an urban resting place by securing ample green spaces and creating paths that connect them, making the whole complex operate like a single park. Additionally, cultural and leisure facilities, which are lacking in the area, will be placed around the park, expected to become a community hub space conveniently used by residents.
Second, a visual corridor connecting the adjacent Sunggok Elementary and Middle Schools to Odong Park behind the site was planned. The corridor ensures sufficient openness and allows easy views of the park from anywhere by linking the park within the complex with pedestrian pathways. Considering the surrounding building heights, the architectural plan aims to create an attractive complex with a harmonious skyline and open landscape.
Based on the characteristics of the adjacent streets, the spatial plan was established to make them popular living streets for local residents. Low-rise street-type commercial buildings and community facilities will be arranged, and a variety of architectural facades and streetscapes will blend to reduce boundaries, creating an open complex.
Fourth, a circulation plan was developed to make the site a convenient passage connecting the region organically with its surroundings. Accessibility to nearby key destinations, existing road networks, and traffic systems were carefully considered to ensure ease of movement and strengthen connectivity with the surroundings.
With the confirmation of the rapid integrated planning proposal for the redevelopment candidate site at 70-1 Hawolgok-dong, the city expects to complete the maintenance plan drafting procedures within the year. The simplification of the rapid integrated planning process is anticipated to significantly shorten the project duration.
Jo Nam-jun, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Planning Bureau, said, “As this is a large-scale project, we carefully considered communication with the surroundings, such as landscape and pedestrian connectivity and the use of living convenience facilities, to minimize negative impacts on the neighborhood.” He added, “We will do our best to ensure that the rapid integrated planning not only speeds up the project but also positively influences the entire area around the site.”
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