There are a lot of people in Seoul, South Korea. And a lot of activities. And a lot of buildings. And the trend can only go one way- more are on the way. As a result of this densification, the realm of the populus has moved underground. This project, Affect and Sensation, by Alejandro Vicente Soto of the DS:13 studio at the University of Westminster, seeks to ‘provide a leisure cluster that aims to re-introduce Korea’s micro spatial identity back into the built urban fabric.’
Courtesy of Alejandro Vicente Soto
The architect describes this move to subterranean spaces as resulting in public domains as ‘micro-spatialities’ or Bang Culture. Soto states that,
Courtesy of Alejandro Vicente Soto
The examination of this new underground frontier is carried through the expansion of micro-spatiality through Korean Bang culture. The importance on Korean Bang culture is that it has multiple embedded sensations related to its spatial and programmatic characteristics. The proposed study is a JJim-Jil Bang (Korean Bath House) mixed with other recreational typologies. The main focus is to unite them to provide a leisure cluster that aims to re-introduce Korea’s micro spatial identity back into the built urban fabric.
By: Matt Davis
Courtesy of Alejandro Vicente Soto
