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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Dongdaemun Plaza Kiosk in Seoul, South Korea by NL architectsOctober 28th, 2014 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: NL architects Young Joon Kim (yo2) is the supervisor of public space of Dongdaemun Plaza in Seoul. He has invited 10 offices to create 3 small kiosks each. The idea is to eventually construct 30 booths that will provide room for different functions; a series of mini buildings for exhibitions, commercial activities, exchange of information, surveillance, interaction. The stalls range in size from 4, 6 to 9 m2. But what is a kiosk? Until recently the site was occupied by two large stadiums (for baseball and soccer) that almost touched each other; a surprisingly intimate urban gesture.  Image Courtesy © NL architects
 Image Courtesy © NL architects Apparently this delicate initial ‘hugging’ of the stadiums was only the foreplay for a more encompassing embrace; the former buildings now seem to have melted into one single body: the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. This breathtaking and groundbreaking masterpiece by Zaha Hadid houses a fashion design information center with convention and exhibition halls.  Image Courtesy © NL architects After initial reluctance to build anything on the square –it seemed quite disturbing to imagine any additional ‘tags’ on this immaculate landscape– we were all persuaded to try and contribute to catalyzing the public space. Everyday (and especially every night) the plaza will turn into a lively market and the projected kiosks will have to accommodate and channel the activities.  Image Courtesy © NL architects The starting point for our ‘family of booths’ is the regular shipping container. The steel boxes are placed either horizontal or vertical depending on the projected functions. In the presence of Zaha all matter seems to become fluid…  Image Courtesy © NL architects Even the most rigid of forms turns malleable, pliable, soft. The containers are modified to optimally house the required program: they are inflated, bend, twisted, deformed; they ‘morph’ according to specific additional functionalities: roof light, stand, canopy.  Image Courtesy © NL architects An extended family of surreal containers can come into being. Supported by our good friend SeungSoo Shin two proposals are being prepared for implementation. One can accommodate small exhibitions; the other will serve as information booth.  Image Courtesy © NL architects All display walls can be opened. These eight doors can form seemingly endless layouts, from completely closed to totally open. Perforated steel plates allow for easy mounting of products or shelves. The roof is transparent. The information booth contains a small elevated plateau with a desk and cupboards. The tail is squeezed to form a soft urban couch.  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects  Image Courtesy © NL architects
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Tags: Seoul, South Korea Categories: Business Centre, Commercial Area, Exhibition Center, Pavilion, Plaza |
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