Heatherwick Studio has unveiled its design for the transformation of the Daegyo Apartments in Yeouido, Seoul. 

Located near Hangang Park along the Han River, the redevelopment will replace 576 existing units, completed in 1975, with approximately 900 new homes. The project will be the studio’s first residential development in South Korea, and feature four residential buildings, a sky garden and a generous ground floor space, open to both residents and the public.

In contrast to the sterile style of many high-rise apartments commonly seen in cities around the world, the design draws inspiration from natural forms. The undulating rooflines of the buildings echo the soft silhouettes of the mountains surrounding Seoul.

The redevelopment will also provide a wide range of community facilities, from children’s play areas and sports amenities to welfare services for older residents. But it’s at the ground level where the building will really come alive. The landscape with its stepped gardens, sheltered walkways and sunken courtyards will offer moments of respite and surprise, and shield the development from surrounding traffic by lifting portions of the site edges.