Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
Spurred on by its winning bid to be the World Design Capital in 2010, the city government
and major construction firms went on a building spree, hiring such luminaries as Zaha Ha-
did for the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Park, and Daniel Libeskind for Archipelago 21,
part of the US$28 billion redevelopment of the Yongsan International Business District.
The work of these celebrated international architects shouldn't overshadow that of local
talents, who have imposed their creative visions on a series of both small- and large-scale
projects adding to Seoul's built beauty. The shopping complex Ssamziegil in Insa-dong
(designed by Choi Moon-gyu and Gabriel Kroiz) and Bae Dae-young's Why Butter build-
ing in Hongdae (housing KT&G SangsangMadang) are both fine examples of contempor-
ary buildings with a strong point of view.
