Take a grand tour of Seoul’s accelerating architecture scene
The economy in the South Korean capital of Seoul has been booming for decades. With that, the infrastructure and architecture has blossomed too, swiftly becoming world-class. The country has entered a modern-day ‘golden age', with the city undergoing one of the fastest and largest transformations in the world, creating new and exciting opportunities for the urban landscape.
Explore Seoul’s expansion from every vantage point: from the crowded streets that seem to curve around the urban structures to the juxtaposition of traditional Korean hanoks with the fifth tallest skyscraper in the world (Lotte World Tower) completed last year. Seoul is a dynamic city of change.
This is the second largest national capital area in the world at 223.7 square miles; containing within it plenty of architectural wonders. Old and new, tradition and modernity coexist. This is a country famous for its technological advances. Sustainability is also high on the agenda, with architectural examples such as Morphosis Architects' environmentally-friendly Kolon One & Only Tower leading the way.
At the same time, South Korea is renowned for valuing beauty and luxury fashion. The former manifested in the K-beauty phenomenon that has been sweeping the global marketplace for the past decade, with the country's obsession with skincare and grooming resulting in exciting new brands. This is reflected architecturally by additions such as David Chipperfield's Amorepacific headquarters.
Seoul’s belief and investment in architectural advances can also clearly be seen in the recent and upcoming plans for its sprawling urban landscape. Read on to discover more about the metropolis' ever-expanding skyline.
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