DAY
Seoul Architectures 9 hours
Tour Highlights
- Myeongdong Cathedral
- Yeouido Architecture Tour
- Gangnam Architecture Tour
Seoul (- - -)
Your exploration this morning begins with a visit to Myeogdong Cathedral that sits on the north eastern edge of the fashion, shopping and entertainment area in downtown. Designed by French Father Goste and completed by Poisnel in 1898, it is the Korea's first Gothic building and an important milestone in the country's architectural history. Neighboring block is high-end department stores filled with carefully laid-out merchandises. Beneath these stores are the huge underground arcades that offer a fascinating subterranean shopping experience.
On an introductory driving tour of Yeouido, an emerging residential neighborhoods and commercial developments including some of the significant buildings, you will see Full Gospel Church possibly the largest in the world, the massive National Assembly Hall built in the mid-1970s, towering 63 building and S-Trenue, a landmark skyscraper with its Bundle Matrix, Stocky Tower and Podium Tower topped by Sky Garden.
While in Gangnam, explore a number of modern buildings. Urban Hive is the winner of the grand Seoul Architecture Award 2009. With 105cm-diameter holes on the white concrete walls, the building looks like a hive. The building exposes its concrete structure, exposing the many holes inside which resemble a sponge.
As you drive, see Kyobo Tower majestically rising in Gangnam's busy intersection, a typical of the works of Mario Botta. Gwell tower with its 32 office unit having an outdoor space that creates a unique "eroded" appearance is a very simple glass curtain wall tower, giving each its own characteristic.
Boutique Monaco is an office building designed to have more exterior surface and corners for more natural light and better views. The spaces created by the missing matrixes are landscaped with trees that are visible from the inside and outside of the building.
Then pass by Samsung Headquarters. Inspired by the symbolic joinery represented in traditional Korean woodworking, these complex curtain wall systems allow for maximum control by the occupants over day lighting and natural ventilation, minimizing the amount of artificial lighting, heating and cooling required by the buildings.
Later, enjoy a driving tour of the 3.5km-long Teheran-ro, or Teheran Boulevard and see various Korean and international financial and business institutions including POSCO, Offices and Banks. Some of Korea's tallest skyscrapers and most expensive real estate are largely centered here.
