Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026

Seoul

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about Seoul

Project • By Order MatterOffices

Found Founded Headquarters

Found Founded is a design studio working across different scales and disciplines, from product design to furniture, spatial design, graphics and digital experiences. Its new headquarters provides a place from which the studio can continue to work and make in its own way, while establishing a new centre for what lies ahead. The building was conceived as an environment in which Found Founded’s people, work and the things they create can naturally accumulate over time. Joel Moritz Joel Moritz Joel Moritz Joel Moritz Joel Moritz The site lies within a low-rise residential neighbourhood in Seogyo-dong, one layer removed from its busy commercial streets. Multi-family houses and older homes sit alongside external st... More

Project • By JOJOWORKSHOPShops

achime bagel

 Achime Bagel is a small bakery located in Munjeong-dong, Seoul, conceived around the idea of beginning the day well. The project started from a simple thought: freshly baked bagels, made with good ingredients and handed over in a small but pleasant space, could be enough to create a meaningful morning experience. Achime Bagel follows a daily production and same-day sales principle, and we wanted this straightforward and sincere attitude to naturally appear in the space. Donggyu Kim Donggyu Kim Donggyu Kim Donggyu Kim The open kitchen became the central scene of the project. Rather than hiding the production process, we exposed the early-morning preparation, baking, and movement of the staff. The activity of prepa... More

Project • By spacewalkerworkBars

Jeongchae

Jeongchae means stagnation, It is a term that describes a state of remaining in place, unable to move forward- moments of delayed movement. We observe a person standing before a softly glowing amber traffic light. They appear completely still, yet slowly begin to move inward, toward another direction. sehee park To remain in one place touches both space and time. While staying within a period of stagnation, we may seem motionless, yet in fact pass through time and space at an extremely slow pace. A descent inward often produces a sensation in which time and mass expand in a negative direction. Within a word that appears negative at first glance, depth begins to form. sehee park sehee park The amber light that appears just... More

Project • By SSP + Sunggi Park(Professor at Seoultech)Cultural Centres

Blooming Clouds

Gangnam, Seoul’s high-rise jungle, epitomizes the relentless modern metropolis. Amid the noise and fast pace, office workers and residents often crave an escape from the daily grind. This project was envisioned as an ‘urban oasis’—a place where weary souls can pause, breathe, and replenish their energy. In this whimsical retreat, Blooming Cloud invites residents and visitors to find moments of serenity. To create a space open to citizens, the building layout and massing were carefully considered. Beginning with façade studies to transform an abandoned and demolished plot into a vibrant and delightful urban space, various massing options were explored to achieve a design aligned with the concept of an “oa... More

Project • By Tuncer Cakmakli ArchitectsMasterplans

Magok Waterfront Seoul Urban Design Concept

Propelled by the ambition to redefine the cityscape and address the high-density living demands of Seoul’s inhabitants, this architectural marvel envisions a landscape that seamlessly merges water, greenery, and innovative urban planning.The Magok Waterfront aims to be an unprecedented oasis in the bustling metropolis, introducing an expansive network of water features, green parks, and vertical gardens to create a harmonious balance between urban living and nature on an unparalleled scale. Caption The driving force behind the Magok Waterfront project is to address the need for accessible and abundant green spaces within the high-density fabric of Seoul. The concept unfolds as an expansive urban landscape, where water and greene... More

Project • By OFF studioRestaurants

OJEJE

 This project is located at the Amorepacific Headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul, designed by David Chipperfield, the 2023 Pritzker Prize. The design approach focused on integrating the building seamlessly into a meticulously coordinated modular system, while also embodying the brand’s identity. Cho Guenyoung Cho Guenyoung Cho Guenyoung  Ojeje is a brand with an identity of Jeju Island. The large mass on the front reminds of a huge stone island and symbolizes the locality of Jeju Island. This mass is composed of black basalt, a stone commonly found on the island. The complex form of irregular natural stones emphasizes their presence within a structured metal grid. Tables and chairs placed in the hall were also des... More

Project • By DESIGN SHAREApartments

Xi Apartment

The Xi apartment serves as a second home for a couple residing in Sydney, Australia. The couple dreamed of a space that could provide comfort and hoped that when they entered their home, their thoughts would become simple. Increasing stays in Korea led them to purchase this home, and through meetings via DesignShare and video apps, they completed a three-month renovation. RAYLITER RAYLITER RAYLITER RAYLITER The client's desires were twofold: to enjoy views of the Han River from any part of the home and to create a spacious entertainment area in the living room. We merged and cleared spaces to reimagine the apartment as a haven for the couple. RAYLITER RAYLITER In contrast to typical apartments, the Xi project... More

Project • By mlnp architectsOffices

Seocho Staircase

The Seocho-dong Staircase Building is situated just a step back from the main road near Seocho Station. This location required a design that not only harmonizes with the vibrancy of the city but also blends seamlessly with the older surrounding structures. Additionally, the design had to carefully consider the 4-meter and 6-meter roads flanking the site, as well as the northern sunlight regulations imposed on residential areas. Jin Bo Choi Caption Caption Brick Facade on the Lower Levels The brick facade wrapping around the lower levels and the core of the building serves to filter out the bustling external environment, while also creating a distinctive atmosphere for the commercial spaces on the first and second floors. Th... More

Project • By Plastique FantastiqueExhibitions

TREES & TRACES

Songhyeon Green Plaza / Songhyeon Dong, Seoul, KoreaSEOUL BIENNALE OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM In the heart of Seoul, right beside the historic Joseon Dynasty palace, an emblematic space emerges from the ground. The location of Songhyeon Dong carries a rich and varied history, with changing uses and owners over time. The (in)visible pavilion presents contrasting perspectives: reflecting on the outside, while revealing transparency within. It acts as a temporal connector, transcending the boundaries of time for the 4th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism. Caption Inspired by the site's intricate history, the artists embarked on a quest to discover the relics hidden beneath the soil. During their April 2023 site visit, they un... More

Project • By shinslab architectureChurches

YeongJong Do Onnuri Church

The Yeongjongdo Onnuri Church stands as a unique religious center on a developing island near Seoul, South Korea. Its design integrates the symbolic form of Noah's Ark with the practical concept of upcycling dismantled ship hulls. The building's bow, pointed skyward, serves as a powerful visual reminder of the ark. Kim YongKwan Kim YongKwan Kim YongKwan This project promotes the concepts of scale, ready-made elements, and sustainable reuse. Fragmented sections of the recycled ship's hull become integral parts of the church's architecture. Steel, a readily available and highly durable material, finds renewed purpose in its elegant, curved forms. Kim YongKwan Kim YongKwan The inspiration for this "Up-cycling" approa... More

Project • By Smaller ArchitectsPrivate Houses

Red house beside railway

The client has lived in this neighborhood since his youth. The house he lived in for a long time is old, and the train that used to run in front of the house, which was a symbol of the neighborhood, no longer runs. Although a lot has changed, the client still likes this neighborhood. They wanted to build a new red house that resembled an old brick house. kimyongsu kimyongsu kimyongsu kimyongsu More

Project • By Smaller ArchitectsOffices

Sharehouse AMISTA

It is a mixed-use building located in Jongno, the oldest district in Seoul. The total floor area is about 500 square meters and is from the 1st basement level to the 5th floor above ground. There is both office space and share house space. jinbochoi jinbochoi jinbochoi jinbochoi jinbochoi jinbochoi Caption More

Project • By Smaller ArchitectsOffices

the Column

It is a 5-story building built on a 28.4m2 site in the center of Seoul. The name of the building is Column because it looks like a towering pillar. One space is located on each floor. Although it is small in size, it was designed with an independent office building in mind. The first floor was planned as a meeting space that also doubles as a take-out cafe, the second and third floors were planned as office space for employees, and the fourth and fifth floors were planned as spaces for more immersive work. jinbochoi Sometimes you can take a break on the rooftop. In small lands, the shape of the building is often determined by the surrounding conditions. After calculating the given roads, buildings, and regulations, there is often litt... More

Project • By TIUM ArchitectsPrivate Houses

Sosodamdam

9 THINGS TO UNDERSTAND SOSODAMDAM HOUSE 1. The site area was reduced from 51.2㎡ to 41.69㎡. According to the building laws, it has been changed due to the widening of the two-meter dead-end road located on the south side of the house. 2. The site is located in the center of the old urban area in Seoul, South Korea. And it faces the apartment (new city environment) across the 12-meter-wide road. Based on the road, it is at the interface of the urban environment of both the old downtown and the new one facing each other 3. When a building coverage ratio of 60% is applied, a floor area can be made up to 25.01㎡. 4. According to the request of the client, it is composed of living facilities for rent and independent housing programs in one bui... More

Project • By Modostudio | Cibinel Laurenti Martocchia architetti associatiTownscapes

Re-structuring SewoonSangga citywalk

Since many years the Seoul city planning Department has activated a process of enhancement of public pedestrian spaces and paths through the creation of a large infrastructural network able to fluidifying pedestrian paths and connecting different areas of the city at the different levels; ground, underground, superground. Caption This process includes the project of re-structuring the Sewoonsangga citywalk. The project, which comes from the winning proposal of an international design competition held in 2017, provides the recovery and reconnection of urban spaces along the iconic megastructure and linear building complex of Sewoonsangga, in the heart of Seoul, which, since its construction in the late 60s, was equipped with elevated p... More