Layers of Seoul

Layers of Seoul is a weekly blog post consisting of the stories of Seoul’s structures and neighborhoods. From the first apartment in South Korea to the last remaining hanok villages, this blog aims to uncover the layers of history, culture, and transformation that shape the city. Specifically, our members hope to explore the connections between how architecture can play a role in creating communities, especially in South Korea’s highly developed and technologically advanced landscape.

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From Whales to Buddhist Temples

Name of building: Seongnamsa Temple Architect/Designer: Monk Doui Date/year: Founded in 824 CE during the Silla period; destroyed during the Japanese invasions (1592–1598) and rebuilt in 1674 Materials: Stone, wood, roof tiles, and traditional Korean decorative painting Location: 557 Seongnam-ro, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea. The murals on the walls and every detail of the building almost made me want to convert to Buddhism. The temple itself made me feel as t

Yuna Ock

2 days ago3 min read

Red Bricks in a Sea of Neon

Writer: Bryan Kim Name of building: Myeongdong Cathedral Architect/Designer: Eugène Jean Georges Coste Date/year: 1898 Materials: Bricks Location: 74 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea If you visit Myeongdong, you know what it is like. All the energetic shops blasting music, numerous street food vendors, and so many tourists visiting the area. Then, there is Myeongdong Cathedral. It is placed on top of a hill, and it looks like a church that has been picked up from E

SAPC

Oct 192 min read

A Space for a New Korea

Writer: Jaeah Kim Name of building: Arario Museum in Space Architect/Designer: Kim Swoo-geun Date/year: Built between 1971 and 1977, was named Arario Museum in 2014 Materials: Dark bricks, ivy, concrete, glass Location: 83 Yulgok-ro, Jongro-gu, Seoul, South Korea Let’s take a trip back to the 1980s. It’s late night, and you’re walking through the narrow street of Yulgok-ro. Traditional houses, giwa roofs, and brick walls surround you. Then you finally arrive at a massive buil

SAPC

Sep 303 min read

Seoul Architecture Preservation Club

Layers of Seoul

From Whales to Buddhist Temples

Red Bricks in a Sea of Neon

A Space for a New Korea

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Architecture
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