Bcome 2020 housing

Busan, Korea

Community hosuing

330 units

Compeition Entry / 2020

SPECIAL SELECTION WINNER

We live in a rapidly changing world. Busan must respond to the needs of an aging society, growing economic disparities and climate change. Communities across the globe share these challenges and this project suggests one way in which Busan may set an example through a new type of housing development. The goal is not to drastically change the status quo but to provide a solution that maintains the values of cultural identity while adapting the space in which life occurs to current needs.

Between the Mauel (village) and the Tower

The traditional mauel always has been a fabric of the hill side housing in Busan, where we can still see a strong sense of community and cultural identity. However, the intensity of coverage, lack of green space and density gives little room for life beyond basic necessity. There is little relief, often leading to poor quality of life and challenging living conditions which lack positive energy. On the opposite end of the spectrum, in recent years, a surging demand for housing has led to the rapid spread of the high rise housing typology, especially on hillside sites such as this one. At first it may appear less impactful to the land, occupying a smaller footprint, but in fact it does the opposite. Any land left around the development is not people-oriented nor entirely natural, and non-contributing to community life . It is an economically driven typology, isolating the populations from each other. What we propose instead is a dispersed, hillside village where density is balanced with green space, where there is quality of life for all in the community. The goal is to address the diverse needs with equal access to light, air, views, space while maintaining a harmonious existence with the natural hillsides of Busan. This in turn promotes a strong sense of community, pride of ownership and maintains the cultural sensibilities that have been at the core of the residents' sense of identity.