Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism | Seoul, South Korea | 2023

Architects: RIOS
Lead Architect: Katherine Harvey
Client: Private
Photographs: Courtesy of the Architects

The fourth Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism hosted the Seoul 100-Year Masterplan Exhibition, inviting designers to envision the city’s future. RIOS’ Hyper-Abundant City concept for the Apgujeong district proposes a resilient masterplan that emphasizes multi-layered land use and green networks for long-term urban development.

The framework of our solution for the future of Apgujeong is based on an organic modular grid that helps to disperse green building typologies across the district. This model draws on elements of the city’s previous infrastructure, blending traditional, agriculturally centered village layouts with the order and efficiency of urban development.

The plan integrates landscape and architecture with rewilded waterfronts and a vernacular of living units that evolve from domestic units to vertical villages. Influenced by Seoul’s historical context, the proposal redefines Apgujeong by opening the site to nature, prioritizing community and social connectivity, and removing barriers to river access while preserving successful elements.

The Hyper-Abundant City emphasizes a shift from traditional infrastructure to adaptive biological systems. New waterways and rewilded landscapes enable nature to flourish alongside infrastructure, creating a balance between city living and nature.

It positions Apgujeong as a flood retention zone and resilient center, reshaping the Han River's edge for habitat, water filtration and retention, and storm event absorption. The river’s edge is strategically cleared to allow natural regrowth, the gradual formation of islands and waterways, and the creation of spaces for public use. Open spaces allow for cultural and natural integration, enhancing connections to the water's edge and natural resources.