The "Dongdaemun Design Plaza" (DDP)
The "Dongdaemun Design Plaza" (DDP) spaceship, which crash-anded in Seoul, caused quite a stir when it was unveiled to the public in 2007. The winning design of a global competition by Zaha Hadid, "The Landscape of Fluidity," was sharply criticized for being too futuristic and out of touch with the historical significance of its location, the site of the Dongdaemun Stadium in Seoul. Furthermore, the actual construction costs of the building, which far exceeded the estimated cost of 2.5 trillion won ($2.2 billion) at the time, also drew criticism.
In a post-election interview, Hadid explained that she was not oblivious to the historical significance of Dongdaemun. Rather, she sought to capture the vibrancy and diversity of the fashion town that had sprung up in the area and expressed the historical moment of the present, rather than merely continuing the legacy of the past.
The openness of the building's outdoor spaces, inspired by traditional Korean houses, and its elongated shape, which resembles the contours of the city's old fortress walls, were explained by Hadid in various media outlets. She also emphasized her intention to shape an undulating hill that visitors could climb along a winding path, rather than simply designing a single building. The goal was to provide visitors with the leisure to explore and discover new landscapes while walking along the curvy hilltop, revealing the hidden faces of Seoul that had previously gone unnoticed.
Today, the DDP attracts over 10 million visitors annually and has become a must-visit architectural landmark, as recognized by TIME magazine. World-renowned luxury brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Dior have all designated the DDP as their exhibition venue, and even after Hadid's passing in 2016, her masterpiece continues to draw visitors from all over the world. In essence, it is a testament to her life's work and legacy.
* Zaha Hadid
an Iraqi-born architect who studied in the United Kingdom at the Architectural Association School and worked under Rem Koolhaas, is widely regarded as a leading figure in the deconstructivism movement and the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize, often called the "Nobel Prize of architecture." Among her notable works are the MAXXI - National Museum of the 21st Century Arts in Rome and the Guangzhou Opera House in China.
* SAMOO architects
SAMOO Architects, a local architecture firm, is one of the largest architecture firms in South Korea and a subsidiary of Samsung Group. They have designed many buildings for Samsung Group and actively collaborate with numerous architects internationally.
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