ACAU SEOUL 14

Asian Coalition of Architecture & Urbanism 2014

SEOUL14

Studio Florian SCHATZ Khoo Shishi Sandy Jessica Ardelia Kresnan Loh Kin Kit Phoaw Yen Shan Pung Li Tu Tan Qian Rou Xu Yajie Eleanor Rachel Yang Wenling Zhang Xiao

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The book showcases works from: National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE Assumption University, THAILAND National Cheng Kung University, TAIWAN Tongji University, CHINA University of Seoul, KOREA University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG University of Malaya, MALAYSIA During the ACAU Workshop 2014 in Seoul 20th Jan - 24th Jan 2014

Collated by: Khoo Shishi Sandy Jessica Ardelia Kresnan Loh Kin Kit Phoaw Yen Shan Pung Li Tu Tan Qian Rou Xu Yajie Eleanor Rachel Yang Wenling Zhang Xiao National University of Singapore Studio Florian SCHATZ Semester 2 2013/2014

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Florian Schätz, Assistant Professor © 2014 Department of Architecture, School of Design and Environment.

National University of Singapore © Text and images by individual contributors © Studio Florian Schätz All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanic means, including information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

The publisher does not warrant or assume any legal responsibility for the publication’s contents.

All opinions in the book are of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of National University of Singapore.

Printed in Singapore.

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CONTENTS TEAM GA with Pung Li Tu, Loh Kin Kit TEAM NA with Phoaw Yen Shan, Xu Yajie Eleanor TEAM DA with Jessica Ardelia, Zhang Xiao TEAM RA with Rachel Yang Wenling TEAM MA with Khoo Shishi Sandy,Tan Qian Rou

“UP”PARTEU Threading Terrain Baeksa at 300% Density

7-47 49-77 79-105

Toolbox for the Progressive Development of Baeksa Village

107-131

The Urban Village

133-153

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ACAU 2014 Since the first workshop in 2005, ACAU(Asian Coalition of Architecture and Urbanism) workshop has helped enhance the understanding of the architectural and urban issues of Asian cities and helped build up academic ties amongst leading institutions of major Asian cities. We plan to reconvene this winter in Seoul for a 5-day lecture and design workshop sessions to contribute more contents to the experience and discuss how we can understand the problems specific to the Asian cities and its role in the future.

The theme of the 2014 workshop is “Post-Apateu�

(Apateu: Korean expression for apartment blocks) seeking new housing type alternatives that may replace the high rise apartment complexes in Seoul. Real-estate bubble has burst and the construction industry is slowing down since past two years in Korea. Population growth is decreasing and the over-produced housing types are rapidly turning obsolete for not meeting the changes in family size. The once hailed apartment blocks not only have become a less

preferable object of investment, but also became less desirable in its sheer physical interaction with the urban environment. The vacancy rate is sharply increasing from the suburbs into the city center. The new developments can slow down, but what are we going to do with already built masses of collective housing? This is the premise of the workshop. In this 5 day workshop we plan to choose a site in one of the old apartment complexes located in downtown Seoul and work on a creative renovation strategy.

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SITE OVERVIEW Baeksa Village, named after its original address of the parcel no. 104, the homophone with Baeksa in Korean, is located at the east margin of Nowongu which is the most northern neighborhood in Seoul. The formation and the transitional process of the village have coincided with the urban sprawl of Seoul Metropolitan City with its geographic expansion and the changes of the spatial structure.

Started from the initial settlement for the evictees from the downtown Seoul back in 1960s, the Baeksa village itself has addressed major issues of the housing policies and municipal regulations of Seoul city government during past decades.

Like other areas in Seoul, the site has undergone the housing redevelopment booming era and the global economic crisis after 2000s; unlike other areas, the site has become the bolder challenges of seeking new alternatives for typical current Korean housing and the new examples of the urban redevelopment.

Nowon-gu, the neighborhood where Baeksa Village 1960s was the period when Seoul had suffered from the extreme population growth and

the housing shortage problems after the Korean War. The city government began to intervene the housing production and implemented the policies of the large-scale Residential Land Development programs, which is to designate vast farmland as new residential zone by cancelling greenbelt.

This was also the time when the farming lands in Jungnang Plains in Nowon-gu started to be developed as the genuine suburban residential area and continued to be the hard-core of multiple large-scale apartment complexes in 1980s and 90s.

In the contrast with the development of adjacent areas, the Baeksa village site was differed significantly in the government policies equating with the history of the urban squatters settlement.

In 1960s, the huge number of rural farmers moved into Seoul and several shanty towns were built in the form of squatted settlements over the large municipal lands near streams and mountain parks in downtown Seoul. The deteriorating townscape in the center of the city soon became serious problematic issues for the modern Seoul. The government enforced the Relocating Program

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of the Squatter Settlement aiming to remove shanty towns from the downtown and to provide these lands for the new residential developments.

The Baeksa Village site, initially the huge mountain parcel owned by the National Forestry Administration, was designated as one of these relocated settlements for the evictees from the demolished shanty towns in 1967. The government parceled out 15 m2 lot per a family, supplying 200 cement bricks per four families for their own construction and small tents for temporary dwelling. There weren’t any infrastructure such as roads, streets, water supply and sewage systems.

The only urban-infra provided by the city were one common well for the whole village and one public bus transportation to the downtown Seoul.

The villagers had suffered from the sanitary and public security problems for long times. Through the several election campaign pledges and afterwards implementations, several moderate improvements were made such as common water supply and roof materials changes from cardboards to slate.

Since the site had been designated as the Limited Development District in 1971, there hadn’t been any significant changes in the village till 1987 when the land-use altered from Mountain Parcel to multiple Land Lots. The legislation of ‘Temporary Measures Law for the Residential Improvement of the Low-Income Group’, allowed the initial public land to be granted to each occupying residents, and property ownerships were transferred to the private individuals. While the adjacent area, Junggye-dong and Sanggye-dong were developed in the form of high-rise and high density reaching over 2 Floor Area Ratio passing 1980s and 90s, Baeksa Village had still maintained its lowdensity, humble and moderate townscape based on 70s’ urban topological scale till late 1990s.

In 1997, the final public announcement of the Provisional Cancellation District of LDD (Limited Development District) made the whole town bustle with the redevelopment booming moods.

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TEAM NA with Loh Kin Kit and Pung Li Tu

“UP” PARTEU

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View of the transformed village

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UPPARTEU Baeksa Village is located remotely from Seoul city centre, about one and a half hours travelling time towards north-east direction, the border between Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The site is located beneath a mountain, therefore forming an interesting but challenging topography, of almost 70 meters height difference measured from the peak.

The current ongoing redevelopment plan for Baeksa Village which deconstruct the entire site with the insertion of high rise apartments not only destructive towards the urban fabric and street patterns, but also the livinghood and the lifestyle of this ‘last village of Seoul’. Our group tends to disregard the ‘one size fits all’ strategy, and to introduce large scale preservation and commercialization, and the intervention of plazas.

Three design strategies are discussed here to generate new apartment solution for ‘postaparteu’ in Baeksa Village.

Retrofit Houses | Plaza Intervention | New Housing

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Developers

Apartments

>

Developers

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Tourism

Cable Car Tourism

Enhance Housing Retrofit existing houses

Introduce new typology Increase vehicle access, walkability Plazas as communal space/landmark

Residents

Enhance Street Fabric PROPOSED ECONOMIC MODEL Revenue Potential for Tourism is greater than Revenue Potential of Apartments. Masterplan as series of strategies to provide economic opportunities and enhance the existing lifestyle.

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Hagye Station City Park and Adventure Trails

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Mount Bulam Scenic Mountain Trails

Baeksa Station Seoul’s Last Village

Cable Car Tourism A cable car system is proposed to connect the village to surrounding city and its scenic attractions.

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View of the cable car in the village

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SITE STRATEGIES

1. Re-engagement of economic activities: Cable cars and Tourist Street 2. Preservation of urban plots 3. Low-rise high-density typology

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MASTERPLAN SCHEME The masterplan is based on three prospects: development of the current situation and the new typology, together with the installation of plazas

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DEVELOPMENT PHASES Phase 1: Cable Car infrastructure and shopping street along the main axis will be established first to attract revenue flows Phase 2: Few plaza spaces and retrofitting zones will be embedded afterwards to further enhance the living condition and lifestyles of the residents Phase 3: A new typology termed “MARU� will be established along the hilly side of the village

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Retrofit Houses

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STREET PATTERNS

Interesting Street Pattern is generated by the plot division - new structures should follow existing plots.

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Type I - Accessible

Plots with easy access to streets

Type II - Orphans Plots with poor accessibility

Type II

Type I

Type II plots may be retrofitted to a maximum height of 4 to 6 stories

Type I plots may be retrofitted to a maximum height of 2 stories

Generic Plots

L block

L with 1,2 ext

full block

side block

front back

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Retrofit Options near Type road I

Retrofit Options Type I Roof Balcony Roof Balcony

Roof Addition

Ground Extension

Roof Balcony

Roof Addition

Common Space Second Floor Ground Extension

Roof Addition II

Elevated House

Roof Balcony

Roof Addition

Common Space Second Floor

Roof Addition II

Ground Extension Ground Extension

Roof Addition

Retrofit Options Type I

Public Roof Terrace

Sheltered Walkway

Elevated House

Elevated House

House + Shop

Common Space

Roof Addition II

Lee Chang Jun, LohSecond Kin Kit, Pung Li Tu, Teechin Navaklao Floor

Elevated House

House + Shop Lee Chang Jun, Loh Kin Kit, Pung Li Tu, Teechin Navaklao

House + + Shop House Shop

Lee Chang Jun, Loh Kin Kit, Pung Li Tu, Teechin Navaklao

TYPE 1 PLOTS

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Possible Extension Sites Orphan Plots

TYPE 1I PLOTS

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50m

Auditorium

Library

Bike Station

Museum

Gallery

School

Hotel

Village Assembly Hall

In

/

Out

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ossible Combinations

Hotel Possible Residence Combinations

Community Hall

hang Jun, Loh Kin Kit, Pung Li Tu, Teechin Navaklao

Hotel Studio

Community Hall

Lee Chang Jun, Loh Kin Kit, Pung Li Tu, Teechin Navaklao

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Possible Combinations Possible Combinations

Possible Combinations Shop Residence Shop Residence

Lee Chang Jun, Loh Kin Kit, Pung Li Tu, Teechin Navaklao Lee Chang Jun, Loh Kin Kit, Pung Li Tu, Teechin Navaklao

Residence Shop

Garden

COMBINATIONS Lee Chang Jun, Loh Kin Kit, Pung Li Tu, Teechin Navaklao

Possible Combinations of different type plots and their possible uses.

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PLAZA INTERVENTION

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PLANNING STRATEGIES

Different axis are used to organize the different uses of the sites.

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ACCESS

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PRECEDENT STUDY

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PRECEDENT STUDY

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PRECEDENT STUDY

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PLAZA TYPOLOGY SMALL

PLAZA TYPOLOGY MEDIUM

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View of Medium Plaza

View of Street

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View of Small Plaza

Street as Plaza

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NEW HOUSING

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LOCATING NEW HOUSING New housing type is built in the currently least built up area. The location chosen also has good view and good accessibility by road, yet is isolated enough for privacy within the zone.

The new typology is termed “MARU�. The total build up space is approximately 12, 000 sq meters.

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HOUSING TRENDS

The courtyard as a traditional form in Korean housing is utilized to generate connection between residents.

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‘MARU’ HOUSING

The indeterminate space of the ‘maru’ in Korean housing is reinvented for a high rise type, and seeks to maintain privacy in mass housing.

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TEAM NA with Phoaw Yen Shan and Xu Yajie Eleanor

THREADING TERRAIN

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Baeksa Village 104 30-3, JungGyeBon-Dong Nowon-Gu, Seoul, South Korea Site Area: 188.900 sq M.

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HISTORY - BAEKSA Nowon-gu, the neighbourhood where Baeksa Village is located in, had served as one of the major gateways to Hanyang (name of Old Seoul City) from the northern part of Korea during the Chosun dynasty. Nowon-gu, surrounded with the Jungnag Stream to the west and Mountain Buram to the east, had begun to be urbanized when it was first designated as one of the official neighbourhoods of Seoul metropolitan city in 1963. For the early times, there had been only vast farmlad near Jungnang plains and existed several small rural villages. The Baeksa village site was located in the remote inside of Nowon0gu near Mountain Buram to be called Angol (Inner Area), Dugito (Backward Village) or Hootgol (Backyard town) at that time.

1960s was the period when Seoul had suffered from the extreme population growth and the housing shortage problems after the Korean War. The city government began to intervene the housing production and implemented the policies of the large-scale Residential Land Development programs, which is to designate vast farmland as new residential zone by cancelling the existing green belt. Farming lands in Jungnag Plans in Nowon-gu started to be developed as the genuine sub-urban residential area and continued to be the hard-core of multiple large-scale apartment complexes in the 1980s and 1990s.

In the contrast with the development of adjacent areas, the Baeksa village site was differed significantly in the government policies equating with the history of the urban squatters settlement.

In 1960s, the huge number of rural farmers moved into Seoul and several shanty towns were built in the form of squatter settlements over the large municipal lands near streams and mountain parks in downtown Seoul. The deteriorating townscape in the center of the city soon became serios problematic issues for the modern Seoul. The government enforced the Relocating Program of the Squatter Settlement aiming to remove shanty towns from the downtown and to provide these lands for the new residential developments. The Baeksa village site (a huge parcel of mountain parcel owned by the national Forestry Administration), was designated as one of these relocated settlements for the evictees from the demolished shanty towns in 1967. The goverment parceled 15m2 lot per family, supplying 200 cement bricks per four families for their own construction and small tents for temporary dwelling. There weren’t any infrastructure such as roads, water supply and sewage system.The only urban-infra provided by the city were one common well for the whole village and one public security problems for long times.

Though the several election campaigns pledges and afterwards implementations, several moderate improvements were made such as common water supply and roof materials changes from cardboards to slate.

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GENERAL TRENDS IN SEOUL Over the years, Seoul shows a trend of ageing population similar to other more developed cities in Asia.

The number of senior workers and elderly are projected to grow while the younger sections of the population are projected to decrease

0-14 children 15-24 students 24-40 working adults 40-64 working seniors 64-above senior citizens

SEOUL POPULATION BY AGE GROUP

Government policies in Seoul discourage having more children in each family. As a result, the population of Seoul has been decreasing since the 1990s.

SEOUL POPULATION THROUGH THE YEARS

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GENERAL TRENDS IN SITE North Eastern Seoul Surrounded by mountains Decreasing Population Problems on housing supply/demand Great number of same typology

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USAGE OF SPACE Alleys and plazas used as living space Handmade buildings Lack of economic infrastructure

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INTIMACY OF SCALE

Heights

Road Widths

Housing Scales

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Almost no activities during winter.

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Section A

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CONTOUR OF SITE

Section B

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MACRO STRATEGY Understanding the needs of modern cosmopolitan living, the objective of the macro strategy is essentially to gel the different worlds into a single working masterplan which offers the best of both the historical and the modern. The main proposal began with the analysis of the pre-existing transport networks that ply the complex terrain of the mountainous site. These networks are largely organic in nature due to terrain constraints. The existing above ground fabric will remain autonomous in relation with the subterranean urban network.

These two networks will be intertwinned at various points with punctuated public zones that serve as key public venues and large scale vertical circulation. This underground network would house a series of modern day amenities that would offer the residents and businesses unpralleled conveniences. at their district. Plans are also proposed to connect this network to the nearby pre-existing subway tunnels, providing an excellent seamless connection across the landscape.

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1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1. Scenic Landscape 2. Intrusive High-rise 3. Urban Tower and Integrated Underground 4. Preserve Current Fabric 5. Preservation & Progress

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MICRO STRATEGY Part of our urban approach consist of a micro strategy that links the individual housing unit with the macro infrastructure we had established. The existing typology of the houses are anaylzed and rethought. Ample emphasis is placed on the existing ambient qualities of the housing units and preservation considerations are developed to maintain the ideal urban quality of the site. The programmatic land use of the site is also reorganized into a largely mixed used fabric that allows for the intermingling of residential and commercial masses. The main focus of the micro strategy is essentially the maintences of that intimate landscape that made the site so special.

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Housing

Commercial

Mixed Use

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PRESERVE EXISTING FEATURES

PRESERVE INTIMACY OF SCALE

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TEAM DA with Zhang Xiao and Jessica Ardelia

BAEKSA AT 300% DENSITY

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DENSITY 300% A POST-APATEU DEVELOPMENT AT BAEKSA VILLAGE It has been observed that in many Asian developed cities, the process of urbanization has moved into a particular stage where the conventional practices that have been implemented for at least a few decades.

In Seoul’s case, the replication of apartment blocks that has been generating tremendous amount of revenue for the construction industry and greatly contributing to Korea’s economic growth – are gradually becoming more and more obsolete under today’s socio-economical contexts.

As a result of decreasing demand for the high rise apartment complexes, the massive volumes of apartment blocks are slowly turning into left-over

concrete sculptures, neither contributing to the overall urban fabrics of Seoul in a meaningful way, nor improving the general living standards for the inhabitants.

Therefore in this workshop, we intend to explore new possibilities of urban housing. We challenge the notion that high density urban living is necessarily unpleasant and attempt to create new housing typologies based on our study into density distribution models.

Simultaneously, we try to develop new perspectives of site analysis based on the perceived value system, and eventually generate an unconventional urban planning strategy.

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building high-rise

+ -

- efficiency / service - facilities - location - security - cheaper - street noise - lifestyle - density

- lack of interaction - traffic - unit accessibility - no identity - heat island - neighbours (noise) - emergency - lacking sense of community - no sustainability

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the value method

reevaluating land value from accessibility, view, sunlight and proximity to amenities. examine the land use and appropriate density for the different plots.

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existing accessibility

improved accessibility

creation of spines

proposed land use

improved accessibility and creation of spines as the basis, subsequent land use allocation for designated plots.

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value of site before VS after

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DENSITY STUDY what does density 300% imply volumetrically and spatially?

BASE

FAR = 300%

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linear block

infinity tower

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DENSITY MORPHOLOGY

courtyard

minimal openings

interaction / play

distributed communal spaces

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central community space

circulation

variations in public & private space

open spaces 50%

sunlight / shading

accessibility

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TYPOLOGIES high

medium - courtyard

low - interlocking villas

ACAU 2014 high-rise apartment

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UNIT TYPE-A 3BR / 90sqm

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UNIT TYPE-B 4BR / 102sqm

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medium rise - courtyard typology

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low rise - interlocking villas

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1st floor plan

UNIT TYPE-A 240 sqm

2nd floor plan

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3rd floor plan

UNIT TYPE-A 240 sqm

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The theme chosen (density 300%) is relevant to the underlying aim of ACAU Workshop to examine what types of residential blocks possible to be built on the site of Baeksa Village.

With further explorations, 300% FAR might actually be possible to achieve.

However, the methods of assigning value should also consider the ‘soft values’ of the site, not just ‘hard values’.

The project is an idea as to what could be from the site and more interesting analysis and investigation are needed.

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TEAM RA with Rachel Yang Wenling

TOOLBOX FOR THE PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF BAEKSA VILLAGE

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Team Ra’s approach was to be highly sensitive and to acknowledge that the organicity of the site in terms of spatial development should be preserved.

We decided that we wanted to preserve the lifestyle of the village i.e the intimacy between the various families living at Baeksa, the meeting and gatherings along the front of houses, and the familiarity that the villagers have towards the site. As a result, we aim to restore the street life at Baeksa village that we believe could have once been a very vibrant one.

The choice of focusing on these little nuances in the livelihood of the people is due to the fact that such characteristics can no longer be found in high rise apartment blocks all around the world.

High rise apartment blocks now breeds a sense of anonymity and individualism which is a complete opposite of the spirit found in such villages.

Acknowledging that Baeksa Village is the last ‘moon village’ in Seoul, Korea, we believe that this is one unique trait that should be preserved.

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OBSERVATIONS We observed that the existing village has a number of units being vacant and this could be used to our advantage in the redevelopment of Baeksa village.

The current site is flanked by mountains and greenery. It is also situated near Mt. Bulam’s hiking trail. In addition, the feature of low-rise buildings adds to the mountaineous landscape of the site, lending it a picturesque view from below Baeksa village.

As a result, my team decided to tap onto the existing qualities as mentioned to develop a progressive masterplan for Baeksa village.

The studio created a series of strategies, which we call the toolbox which could be developed in greater detail in the future to create a more specific spatial development for the site.

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Land owners provide LAND

Newcomers provide CONSTRUCTION COST

Temporarily relocated to vacant house

SHARED NEW HOUSE

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INTRODUCTION OF NEW PROGRAMMES 1st phase of development

In trying to redevelop Baeksa village, the approach was for the village to be self-sufficient and that the village would be able to generate its own economy to sustain the development with minimum initial cost, or perhaps minimum subsidy from the government.

Bearing in mind the natural landscape present at site, we decided to develop a new hiking trail that would eventually be connected to the existing trail of Mt. Bulam, which is nearby.

The natural hilly mountains at site could be terraced to introduce farming to Baeksa village, and in return the produce could be sold to generate income for redevelopment.

Existing landowners would thereby provide the land needed for redevelopment and new comers would provide the initial cost for redeveloping of housing clusters. Such housing developments would occur at nodes near the hiking trail, and the existing marketplace at the foot of the hill

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housing redevelopment agricultural activities hiking trail

housing redevelopment housing redevelopment

housing redevelopment

growth of new clusters new economic activities hiking trail agricultural activities

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Existing network

Network after 1st phase development

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Expansion of hiking trail

Formation of communities

Increased terracing for agriculatural activities

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CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT 2nd phase of development

With the existing hiking trail being established and the terracing for agricultural produce in place, the next course of action would be the further expansion these programmes. These in turn would generate further income and spur the economy of Baeksa village.

More shops could be introduced along hiking trails and produce could be sold at marketplaces.

With more economic activities with low initial cost, there will be more new-comers to the village.

New clusters will grow and interact with each other to form communities with various urban spaces for interactions.

Mixed used typologies would be developed (Pure housing, Pure retail, Retail - housing)

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housing redevelopment agricultural activities hiking trail

housing redevelopment housing redevelopment

housing redevelopment

hybrid communities/clusters interaction between communities new urban spaces further expansion of hiking trail increased agricultural activities marketplace formation more green spaces/urban spaces

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Network after 2nd phase development

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Impressions on streetscape

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Infrastructure to improve mobility

Diversity of Spaces and Programmes

Supermarket, school, etc

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FURTHER EXPANSION 3rd phase of development

The village will by now witness a greater influx of people from all demographics. Housing continue to target the less wealthy in order to create affordable housing to new comers as well as existing villagers of Baeksa village.

With an increased number of people, road networks would develop in accordance to the development of the nodes and the village will witness a growth that is organic and not excessive. An underground carpark is proposed to maintain the natural landscape present at site and to cater for the increased number of people in the village Communities would grow at different speed, according to the users in the communities, resulting in a diversity of spaces and programmes.

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Connect the 6m roads Expand to 4m roads Retain the alleyway Green belt

Make a complete hierarchy system of road

TOOLBOX

road network development

Arterial Road Sub-arterial road Collector Street Alley Green belt Developed Area

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Section to illustrate road network

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Analysis of users space requirements User Types Single Area

35 sq m

Newly Married 50 sq m

Small family 75 sq m

Medium family 90 sq m

Big family 120 sq m

Elderly couple 50 sq m

Kitchen space Dining space Living Space Bedroom space WC & bath Total modules required

5.5

8

12

14

19.5

2.5m x 2.5 m

Look after old people

TOOLBOX housing prototype

Look after old people

Look after the house

Look after the house

Look after children

Look after old people

Look after the house

Look after the house

8

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Construction Principle: Combination owner owner/rental First floor Second floor

Big family

Old couple/ newly wed Small family

Medium sized family 1st floor - home owners 3rd floor - renters 1st floor - living space 2nd floor - shared space 3rd floor - living space

Single/ Student

Step 1.

Combine lots before

one lot, one house after

One big lot, shared house Massing prototypes

Step 2,

Step 3.

Programme in module Module

Examples

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main central plaza sub centre

park public library traditional gallery

facilities convenience store clinic laundry drug store playground daycare

TOOLBOX

redefining public spaces

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market impression

various impressions of new urban spaces

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TEAM MA with Khoo ShiShi Sandy and Tan Qian Rou

THE URBAN VILLAGE

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THE LAST MOON VILLAGE Baeksa Maeul, the last moon village, harbors an atmosphere unique unto itself.

Baeksa thus allows us an opportunity to re-examine housing and living seperate from the apartment system, with a more human scale and social pattern.

By preserving memory with reference to future generations, we may celebrate and rediscover Baeksa Village, and in doing so, grow a new urban village.

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THE VILLAGE 1. impremenance + flux collective memory

BAEKSA VILLAG

BAEKSA VILLAGE Analysis

Analysis

Impermanence , flux

Impermanence , flux

2. accidental spaces

BAEKSA VILLAGE Analysis

Impermanence , flux

collective memory?t

collective memory?t

landscapes

Accidental informal gathering spotst

4. future residents: 1 typology, 2 communities

Accidental informal gathering spotst

GROWTH

Accidental informal gathering spotst

the people

3. the last moon village; mutual support + small entreprises landscapes

collective memory?t

landscapes

the people

the people

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CONC E P T

UR B A N ACC U PU NC TU RE

C R EAT I N G

PR ESERVATIO N

To improve the lives of residents by providing proper housing and basic infrastructure for: economic sustainability, community growth and self rejuvenation.

(urban) modernity, convinence, living standards (village) community, memory, vibrancy

From the analysis of physical urban traits and programmatic considerations, the larger site is subdivided into three areas, each with their own interest and goal.

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URBAN

VILLAGE

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1: THE RESIDENCES Baeksa village is an eclectic mass of buildings, rising out of an organic road pattern based on a complex and personal circulatory system. In order to retain the memory and atmosphere of the village, it is necessary to preserve this unique network.

New housing can be injected into the original plot formation, preserving and making full use of the road system. With new orientations, scales and typology, the new housing may interact with the echoes of past ones to form a richer urban fabric.

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MODULAR SYSTEM Modular housing is introduced to the fine-grain residential area.

Similar in shape and growth to the original Baeksa houses, the stack-and-customize aspect of modulars also allow home owners to upgrade according to their financial situation.

Pre-fabricated materials keep costs low for the renters, and to attract new populations. This typology is aimed at smaller families, singles and the lower-income class.

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TERRACE HOUSING Terrace housing is introduced to the steeper parts of the residential area, to diversify the area.

The terrain provides open courtyards and views for inidividual units, while still achieving a certain amount of building density and FAR. Terrace housing also helps to mitigate and soften the harsh natural landscape.

The higher topographical levels of the village are more suited for increased privacy and car usage; this typology is thus aimed at mid-income and larger families.

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ALLEYWAYS Existing back alleys are used as informal, ambiguous outdoor living areas by residents.

By roofing them over and incorporating them into new buildings, we can re-create these indoor streets. The unique atmosphere and semi-public spaces created can be preserved in spirit.

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BUILDING PLOTS Although similar in size and average around 15m2 each, the building plots in Baeksa Village are irregular in shape and placement.

individual plots

combined plots

According to modern building laws, any redevelopment project requires the building to be set back from the plot edge. However, more building space can be achieved by combining the plots.

This serves the purpose of allowing more built area in the site. To economize the space, shared living may also be proposed for larger plots.

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2: THE SPINE As the largest and most accessible street, the spine functions as a filtered entrance to the village.

A link to the surrounding urban areas makes the spine viable for commercial activity.

Commercial shops, local businesses, markets and scenic attractions can be located here.

Small enterprises catering to local needs aid in achieving economic sustainability and generating revenue for the community.

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ORGANIC DENSITY An aging population results in the stagnation of both economy and vibrancy. There is a need to rejuvinate the area by attracting low-income renters and the younger generation.

Residents of Baeksa Village have a culture of micro-farming; the produce grown in their backyard is part of their diet.

By introducing slightly larger-scale farming in the bigger plots of the spine, produce can also be sold to the local community and introduce a culture of self-sustenance.

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3: THE SUBURB A newer developement can be found on the side of the village, an extension of the road network.

This new area has a more organized road system, suitable for private housing. This provides an opportunity for exurbanism from the city center, while remaing close enough to major districts.

Facilities can also be provided to service this more isolated area, neighbouring communities as well as the tourism and commercial belt.

Landscaping can be performed to take advantage of the scenery.

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STUDENT VIEW Alongside 8 other colleagues from my studio, we were honoured to be able to participate in the annual ACAU workshop this year in Seoul, Korea. It was truly a rewarding and humbling experience to be able to exchange academic ideas through such a workshop.

This year, we were tasked to explore the possibilities of redeveloping and preserving the last “moon village� in Korea, Baeksa village. It was a site characterised with small, ramshackle homes that follow the steep contours of the hill and these were connected by a web of steps and alleyways.

I found this site to be extremely unique because it was something different to what we were exposed to in Singapore. To be able to work with fellow architecture students from Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan was really fun as I was not only exposed to many different design ideas, I was

also able to learn and explore the various types of living and housing typologies from around the region through studio discussions with my colleagues and tutors in this workshop.

What really amazed me was the hospitality that we received from our host university, University of Seoul, throughout the entire time that we were in Korea. The organisation of the entire workshop was impeccable and their efforts were truly commendable.

The local students in my studio were really helpful in many ways, and made sure that we were well taken care of the whole time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and I really would like to thank NUS for this wonderful opportunity.

Rachel Yang Wenling,Year 4

SEOUL14 The ACAU (Asian Coalition for Architecture and Urbanism) workshop this year was conducted over five days in Seoul. Seven schools from across Asia were in attendance. The institutions that participated in the workshop this year included the University of Malaya, Assumption University, University of Hong Kong, National Cheng Kun University, Tongji University and the University of Seoul in addition to the National University of Singapore. Originally set up in 2001, The ACAU workshop aims to enhance a mutual understanding of the architectural and urban conditions of Asian cities and to forge collaborative relations between the participating institutions.

This year’s conference titled “post-apateu” examined the changes in domestic typology in Seoul as a result of a collapsing real estate bubble. The workshop sought to devise new ways of living in a postapartment landscape. Decreasing populations, changes in family size and reducing returns on apartment building have prompted a search for new and more relevant solutions to housing in Seoul.

The workshop included a series of lectures on the urban condition of Seoul and on the development of the apartment typology in Seoul.

It also included a series of visits to characteristic sites in Seoul, such as the Bukchon area with its row house typology and Baeksa village, a low-rise high-density sprawl located on the edge of Seoul. The latter was chosen as the site for the workshop to engage with.

With its mountainous territory, ramshackle dwellings and intricate street pattern, the site offered many opportunities and obstacles for students to explore. The resulting design ideas presented at the end of the workshop were diverse. Some groups attempted to preserve the picturesque quality of the site and by taking advantage of its terrain improve existing living conditions as well as provide an alternative housing model to Seoul citizens. Alternatively, other groups advocated a total reorganization of the site to create a new hyper-dense settlement on the outskirts of Seoul that could be replicated in the future as a response to the apartment.

Between these extreme outcomes, a variety of other responses were produced. All ideas reflected the differing attitudes towards preservation and the ideal constituents of the domestic lifestyle as harbored by the students from different countries, and represented an important learning experience for all involved.

ACAU SEOUL 2014 Studio Florian Schätz | AR4101 Department of Architecture National University of Singapore