new seoul city hall by mass studies

the korean architecture studio mass studies have recently unveiled their proposal for the new seoul city hall extension.
the studio describe the project as: 'an attempt to unify the old seoul city hall and the new seoul city hall to create
'one' space that is also at the same time of 'many', as an opportunity to create an architectural and urban embodiment
of unity and multiplicity that is required by contemporary democracy in a most tangible way.
'our proposal for the city hall is not an object-based architecture that is quick to reveal all of its virtues from several
kilometers away, but a spatial experience that is fully integrated into the city to be re-discovered as a ‘place.’
the exterior forms an appropriate composition with the surroundings, with unique and inviting urban elements as a
unified whole from all sides. if the existing city hall building could be generalized as a façade, or simply, a single face...
then the new proposal could be understood as a continuing array of faces whose dynamic quality would draw the
people in from all directions. once they are inside, they will be submerged into the strong, central outdoor space
of the madang, re-defining the space as a dynamic interaction of public functions. through this madang,
the city hall will become one, while the exterior is composed of multiple traits to embrace different types of people,
and thus interact with each of their daily lives.'

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