Designed by SWA Group with Ojanen Chiou Architects LLP, the 157 hectare Dongtan Central Business Master Plan is at the heart of Dongtan City: a new urban center located just 30 km south of Seoul in South Korea. The development zone is situated on a former agricultural plain that had been taken over by various industrial uses. Bounded by a river to the west and mountainous terrain to the east, this zone is bisected by a major transportation corridor connecting Seoul with the southern reaches of the country. At the core of the development is a transit center that will accommodate high-speed and metropolitan rail stations connecting with a bi-modal (bus + tram) transit system, and long-distance and city buses, establishing Dongtan City as a major regional transit hub. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The remainder of the program includes public plazas, office buildings, a corporate campus, retail functions, hotels, schools, and various cultural facilities. Inspired by the local native ecology, the layout is a constructed response to the natural course of water as it moves from higher to lower elevations. The urban fabric is organized by a series of green zones established around a system of watercourses traversing the site, infusing the overall urban experience with a strong sense of nature by creating natural corridors of light, air, flora, and fauna, and providing numerous open spaces for leisure and recreation.
