WINNING PROPOSAL by 

VAAL STUDIO

FOR THE OLD HANGLAS SITE 

 

architecture and design firm vaal studio reveals its winning proposal for ‘the international competition for the development plan of the old hanglas site’ in busan, south korea. the project puts a spotlight on the rapid urbanization of south korean cities following the booming economy  of the country – particularly, the city of busan.  

 

from rural houses to high-rise complexes, busan has experienced intensive urban transformations over the last decades. in the process of this urban regeneration, perhaps the most important thing to consider is the need for social capital on which a large part of korea’s progress and evolution is based on. yet, due to its nature and structure, developers have undermined the importance of providing spaces that foster social wellbeing. 

vaal studios winning proposal for the international competition for the development plan of the old hanglas site 7
exterior view of vaal studio’s winning proposal for the old hanglas site in south korea

 

 

FREEING UP LANDS FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS TO UNFOLD

 

to contribute to the development of the city,  local residents need those spaces for communication, interaction, discussion and experimentation. that said, vaal studio’s proposal aims to allocate maximum land to open spaces and public layers where social interactions can freely unfold all while respecting the former rural context of the site. 

 

the first layer of the design highlights the residential towers located on the northern part of the site. even though these towers are the densest and tallest structure of the proposal, their diagonal arrangement provides the best lighting and views to the ocean without blocking any other towers from that very same vista. the façade of those towers is made transparent to further maximize that connection between the users and the city,  while the building footprints on the lower levels are minimized in order to free up land. 

vaal studios winning proposal for the international competition for the development plan of the old hanglas site 3
view of the proposed residential towers and hotel overlooking the ocean

 

 

INJECTING NEW ACTIVITY HUBS AND SHEDDING SPATIAL OBSTACLES 

 

vaal studio also proposed erecting a new hotel building where the chimney of the former glass factory currently stands. this hotel would act as a landmark that pays tribute to the busan resident’s collective memory. on the other hand, the southern areas close to the ocean are planned for marine culture and tourism facilities. there, low-rise buildings, organic forms and semi-open spaces create a zone where no specific border exists between outdoor and indoor spaces. these spatial characteristics, along with a circulation network, smoothly connect the southern hub to the city and residential area without visual obstacles or access barriers.

vaal studios winning proposal for the international competition for the development plan of the old hanglas site 8
the southern zone is planned for marine culture and tourism facilities

vaal studios winning proposal for the international competition for the development plan of the old hanglas site 9
the farmer’s market and community amenities are located between the residential and southern zones

vaal studios winning proposal for the international competition for the development plan of the old hanglas site 10
low-rise buildings, organic forms and semi-open spaces: a zone where no specific borders exists

 

 

 

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project info:

 

name: international competition for the development plan of the old hanglas site

architecture & design: vaal studio

team members: milad salehi vasegh, shirin haddadian, sara behtash, aria ebadi, gelare taherian, samin ziari, rashin hosseini

location: busan, south korea

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom