Reviews
As stated in the opening, this book is a story about the land and architecture of Seoul. But what exactly is the architecture of Seoul? The author appears to have pondered this question extensively. While broadly divided into four parts, the prologue, which encapsulates these reflections, is not merely lighthearted, giving it the feel of a fifth part. Part 1 depicts the history of how Seoul has taken on its current form. Part 2 explains the methods of construction and policy aspects, while Part
How dynamic is Seoul? It is “the only city that serves as a national capital with a population exceeding 10 million,” and a city where “it has been over 626 years since it was built as a capital, yet its buildings have not yet reached the age of 60.” This city is an organization formed through numerous plans, interventions, and attempts and connections across diverse domains. Even just looking at the flow of its history—from the Japanese colonial period when land ownership became open to both
This book is difficult, yet engaging. As suggested by its title, *The Seoul Solution*, it approaches the relationship between the city of Seoul and the architecture within it from various architectural perspectives. The author demonstrates deep research into Korea's Building and Urban Laws, along with profound contemplation regarding their implementation. Through the process of execution, laws become the cities and buildings we live in. The book also analyzes the differences between Korea and
This book is difficult, yet engaging. As suggested by its title, *The Seoul Solution*, it approaches the relationship between the city of Seoul and the architecture within it from various architectural perspectives. The author demonstrates deep research into Korea's Building and Urban Laws, along with profound contemplation regarding their implementation. Through the process of execution, laws become the cities and buildings we live in. The book also analyzes the differences between Korea and
I believe this book is a highly realistic read that is easily accessible to anyone interested in cities and architecture. Although it discusses the metropolis of Seoul, South Korea, it clearly explains how the city has been planned and experimented with in the era we live in today, and how buildings within it have adapted to and transformed by regulations and reality. I think it is a book that prompts architects to reconsider the direction they should take between ideals and reality, and poses
When explaining this book to acquaintances, I show them the table of contents. The large text for "Land," "Constraints," "Inertia," and "Propositions" immediately catches the eye. These are the four words that best describe Seoul's urban landscape and architecture today. Personally, having a keen interest in Seoul's urban planning, I have searched extensively for books on the subject at the Seoul Metropolitan Library. As everyone knows, Seoul is a dense city. It is also complex, and it is
This book, which argues that "Seoul is heterogeneous," is much richer than expected. Because it is in an omnibus format, it is enjoyable to read; you can put it down midway and resume reading from where you left off. I resonate with the opening statement that "architectural design begins at the point where the city and architecture collide," and the closing remark that "good architecture must be predicated on good planning, and before good planning, there must be sound urban planning." While it
Set against the backdrop of Seoul—a city distinctive and intriguing enough to rival major global metropolises—this book leaves a lasting impression with the author's keen and thorough analysis and proposed solutions. It captures the author's philosophy and his vision for a desirable future for Seoul as an expert, covering the history and origins of the land, the impact of regulations and constraints, and analyses viewed through building floor plans and layouts. It is a valuable read worth
As someone whose profession involves constantly contemplating what constitutes good architecture, I read this book thoroughly. It was a very interesting read, as it allowed me to understand the various forces at work in the actual realization of construction, going beyond the school education where design seemed to be everything.
Titled "Seoul Solution," this book analyzes the city and architecture of Seoul. While the detailed analysis of Seoul's urban planning and architecture is intriguing in itself, I believe it poses fundamental questions that transcend the subject matter through the lens of Seoul. Is architecture an ideal or a reality? Is it an architect's work of art, or a commodity for developers or the market? Standing at the interface between the city and architecture—a fierce boundary where ideals and reality
Kim Seong-hong: Seoul Solution
*The Seoul Solution* is the concluding volume of the ‘Urban Architecture Trilogy.’ As Seoul approaches its 630th anniversary as the capital, the city has reshaped 70 percent of its urbanized area—excluding green spaces—over the past 60 years. Consequently, it has become a tattered fabric patched together from multiple layers of scraps. It is akin to a new garment resembling a worn-out old one, made by haphazardly piecing together thick, coarse fabric, fine, soft fabric, and scraps of different colors and patterns. Buildings were constructed on this land at a rapid pace. As the city underwent urbanization and compressed growth unprecedented in the history of world cities, growing pains were inevitably bound to follow. This book captures the in-depth stories intertwined with land and architecture concerning today's Seoul, which is suffering from these growing pains. It examines the correlation between urban planning and architectural types from the Japanese colonial period through the military regime's pushy development to the present, and analyzes the external conditions that shape architecture, such as land, laws, floor area ratio, time, and cost. Furthermore, it addresses the inherent inertia that has plagued Seoul's architecture regardless of architectural type, scale, or location, and explores the clues needed to creatively reverse that inertia. It is essentially a story about the clash, conflict, compromise, and subversion between the "external forces of the city" and the "internal principles of architecture" unfolding against the backdrop of Seoul. External forces are architectural conditions applied "from the outside inward," such as land, density, laws and institutions, and cost, while internal principles are the generative principles of architecture "from the inside outward," integrating space, form, and structure. As mutually contradictory opposing terms, the former forces and the latter principles demand strategic negotiation and compromise.
Korean title: 서울 해법
Korean author: 김성홍
Korean publisher: 현암사
ISBN-13: 9788932320489
Reviews
As stated in the opening, this book is a story about the land and architecture of Seoul. But what exactly is the architecture of Seoul? The author appears to have pondered this question extensively. While broadly divided into four parts, the prologue, which encapsulates these reflections, is not merely lighthearted, giving it the feel of a fifth part. Part 1 depicts the history of how Seoul has taken on its current form. Part 2 explains the methods of construction and policy aspects, while Part
How dynamic is Seoul? It is “the only city that serves as a national capital with a population exceeding 10 million,” and a city where “it has been over 626 years since it was built as a capital, yet its buildings have not yet reached the age of 60.” This city is an organization formed through numerous plans, interventions, and attempts and connections across diverse domains. Even just looking at the flow of its history—from the Japanese colonial period when land ownership became open to both
This book is difficult, yet engaging. As suggested by its title, *The Seoul Solution*, it approaches the relationship between the city of Seoul and the architecture within it from various architectural perspectives. The author demonstrates deep research into Korea's Building and Urban Laws, along with profound contemplation regarding their implementation. Through the process of execution, laws become the cities and buildings we live in. The book also analyzes the differences between Korea and
This book is difficult, yet engaging. As suggested by its title, *The Seoul Solution*, it approaches the relationship between the city of Seoul and the architecture within it from various architectural perspectives. The author demonstrates deep research into Korea's Building and Urban Laws, along with profound contemplation regarding their implementation. Through the process of execution, laws become the cities and buildings we live in. The book also analyzes the differences between Korea and
I believe this book is a highly realistic read that is easily accessible to anyone interested in cities and architecture. Although it discusses the metropolis of Seoul, South Korea, it clearly explains how the city has been planned and experimented with in the era we live in today, and how buildings within it have adapted to and transformed by regulations and reality. I think it is a book that prompts architects to reconsider the direction they should take between ideals and reality, and poses
When explaining this book to acquaintances, I show them the table of contents. The large text for "Land," "Constraints," "Inertia," and "Propositions" immediately catches the eye. These are the four words that best describe Seoul's urban landscape and architecture today. Personally, having a keen interest in Seoul's urban planning, I have searched extensively for books on the subject at the Seoul Metropolitan Library. As everyone knows, Seoul is a dense city. It is also complex, and it is
This book, which argues that "Seoul is heterogeneous," is much richer than expected. Because it is in an omnibus format, it is enjoyable to read; you can put it down midway and resume reading from where you left off. I resonate with the opening statement that "architectural design begins at the point where the city and architecture collide," and the closing remark that "good architecture must be predicated on good planning, and before good planning, there must be sound urban planning." While it
Set against the backdrop of Seoul—a city distinctive and intriguing enough to rival major global metropolises—this book leaves a lasting impression with the author's keen and thorough analysis and proposed solutions. It captures the author's philosophy and his vision for a desirable future for Seoul as an expert, covering the history and origins of the land, the impact of regulations and constraints, and analyses viewed through building floor plans and layouts. It is a valuable read worth
As someone whose profession involves constantly contemplating what constitutes good architecture, I read this book thoroughly. It was a very interesting read, as it allowed me to understand the various forces at work in the actual realization of construction, going beyond the school education where design seemed to be everything.
Titled "Seoul Solution," this book analyzes the city and architecture of Seoul. While the detailed analysis of Seoul's urban planning and architecture is intriguing in itself, I believe it poses fundamental questions that transcend the subject matter through the lens of Seoul. Is architecture an ideal or a reality? Is it an architect's work of art, or a commodity for developers or the market? Standing at the interface between the city and architecture—a fierce boundary where ideals and reality
