Seoul – Development without demolition

16 May 2018

Discover how Seoul transformed ageing infrastructure into vibrant public spaces, preserving heritage and memories without demolition.

This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.

Having faced greater public resistance in urban development, Seoul creatively met the people’s needs while still achieving its vision. Its repurposing of dilapidated urban infrastructure, termed as 'development without demolition', demonstrates innovation in conserving modern heritage while preserving collective memories.

Seoullo 7017 – from major driveway to sky garden

Seoullo 7017 is a conversion of the Seoul Station Overpass into a 1 km elevated public pedestrian passage, with plants, commercial and performance spaces, and public facilities along the way.

The overpass was built in 1970 as a major driveway to connect western and central Seoul. After more than 40 years of heavy use, it was closed in 2015 due to safety concerns. While some had called for the overpass to be demolished, the city was inspired by New York’s High Line, and decided to convert it into a park instead.

Seoullo 7017 is a signifier of the city’s paradigm shift from car-oriented transportation to people-centric spaces. It is a well-used public space in central Seoul today.

Black and white aerial view of a dense city skyline with tall buildings, highways, and rail tracks below.

The Seoul Station Overpass used to be a major driveway connecting the Seoul Station to other areas in Seoul © Seoul Metropolitan Government

Elevated urban walkway with greenery winds above a busy city intersection surrounded by tall buildings.

Seoullo 7017 today © Damien Woon

Elevated urban walkway with trees, planters, a round café building, and many people strolling amid green surroundings.

Seoullo 7017 is a lushly planted elevated walkway with pockets of activities along the way © Seoul Metropolitan Government

A guitarist performs outdoors in an urban plaza as a crowd of people gathers to watch, with tall buildings behind.

People enjoying a public performance at Seoullo 7017 © Seoul Metropolitan Government

A group of young people gather around a circular outdoor seating area on a rooftop with a city skyline behind them.

A public foot bath along Seoullo 7017 © Damien Woon

Makercity Sewoon – from ageing superblocks to synergy between old and new

The Makercity Sewoon project is a rehabilitation of seven commercial and residential superblocks in central Seoul built in the 1970s into a hub for technology, manufacturing and business start-ups.

The existing shop-owners are relocated within the same complex, while new uses are introduced, re-injecting vibrancy in the dilapidated area. Start-ups can now use business incubation spaces in the complex, called “Makers’ Cubes”, for their creative development activities, such as the design and fine-tuning of drones and smart medical devices.

Elevated bridges that had been torn down were rebuilt to reconnect the complex’s seven blocks, and new studios and retail units were added along pedestrian walkways.

Crowd of people gathered outside Makercity Sewoon building in South Korea with Korean signage.

Makercity Sewoon © Seoul Metropolitan Government

Elevated wooden walkway with crowds, white greenhouse structures, and a city skyline with a tower in the background.

Rooftop activity space at Makercity Sewoon © Seoul Metropolitan Government

People and vehicles on a narrow covered market street with Korean signs and a Hyundai truck in the foreground.

Insertion of a second story walkway © Damien Woon

A Korean urban street with colorful shop signs, a covered walkway, and multi-story buildings under a blue sky.

An elevated walkway that connects the superblocks © Damien Woon

A man in black clothing walks past storefronts with Korean signage on a city sidewalk.

A group of people sit in an industrial workspace watching a presentation, with a white robotic arm in the foreground.

Mapo Culture Depot – from disused oil tanks to an arts and culture hub

The Mapo Culture Depot is the repurposing of the disused oil tanks at the former oil depot at Maebong into a spacious park and cultural venue with galleries and performance spaces, a multipurpose pavilion, an outdoor amphitheatre, and a café.

The oil storage facility was abandoned since the early 2000s due to the construction of the Seoul World Cup Stadium nearby in preparation for the city’s co-hosting of the 2002 World Cup. By repurposing the abandoned facility and returning the space to the people, the city demonstrates creativity in conserving its industrial heritage and putting them to new uses.

A circular glass skylight and a round wooden building sit among green hills near a city stadium.

An overview of the Mapo Culture Depot, with the Seoul World Cup Stadium in the background © Seoul Metropolitan Government

An open-air plaza with rows of stone blocks, a large concrete wall, and one person walking under a cloudy sky.

An outdoor amphitheatre, with the structure of the former oil tank standing in the background © Seoul Metropolitan Government

Two views of a domed building: left shows a dark interior lit in blue at night, right shows a bright modern atrium with visitors.

A circular building with a rust-patinated metal facade sits under a partly cloudy sky, with a person seated nearby.

A newly constructed building in the form of an oil tank housing exhibition spaces, and cladded in materials inspired by the oil tanks © Damien Woon