Slow urban living apartments : transformation of five story walk-up apartments in Seoul

Abstract

Experiential living is the new trend for future living. Whether it is through living in micro spaces, flexible units, mixed-use developments, practicing urban farming, or sharing lifestyles, these different trends of living intersects at the overlapping theme of experiential living. At the same time, Seoul is facing a final wave of 'retirement age' of the first generation of post-war urban housing apartments. Instead of the typical scrap-and-build urban renewal method (the culprit of the formation of 'apartment city', with over 60% of housing stock as apartments), is there an alternate method of urban redevelopment? This thesis investigates idea of small-scale urban renewal by integrating the idea of 'experiential slow living' in the existing low-rise, enclosed apartment community. Can this idea of transforming the ground level experience with slow food (productive landscapes) and slow craft (mixed-use living and shared spaces) become the alternative model for urban renewal that can be practiced throughout the city of apartments?