Seoul Building Covered in Grass
Creative and quirky, and actually in Korea this time:
(Photo from AussiE-media)
I originally read about this building at AussiE-media, which says that it has ”an Ann Demeulemeester shop on the ground floor, a restaurant above, and a multi-shop below,” but unfortunately not much else besides swiped, conveniently non-copyrighted pictures (although after ranting about being splogged recently, I made sure to only “take” one in turn).
Fortunately a quick search took me to Deezen, with many more exterior and interior photos, and lots of information about the architect Minsuk Cho and his Seoul-based company Mass Studies, which was founded in 2003 ”as a critical investigation of architecture in the context of mass production, intensely over-populated urban conditions, and other emergent cultural niches that define contemporary society.” Most important of all, Deezen also has an address and directions for finding the building in Gangnam, and I may check it out the next time I’m in Seoul.
But before I do, have any Seoulites seen it for themselves? If so, is it worth the trip, or do the photos at Deezen pretty much cover everything?
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My favorite quirky buildings have always been the giant ships they sometimes use for restaurants or coffee shops.
Really? I’ve always found them a bit tacky and garish myself. But sure, viva la difference still.
Come to think of it, I’ve seen an awful lot here. Maybe it’s because both you and I are in the South of the country?
Oh, they’re definitely tacky and garish, but I think they add character. Especially since most buildings around here look exactly the same (apartments or blockish officetels).
There’s at least two in my town now. The one looks out onto New Downtown, and was once home to a “family restaurant.” It’s unoccupied now, though, and in pretty bad shape. Right next to it is another unoccupied building. It was last a coffee shop / tea house in the shape of a soccer ball. And next to that is a building that was, last I checked, mostly unoccupied, too. It’s orange with a nice slope on it that has kind of a panoramic view of the city. Shame to have so many cool-looking buildings in a good spot put to such bad use.
So where in Seoul is this grass building?
Well like I said, Deezen has directions to it.
Presumably it’s a washed out shade of brown at the moment?
Good point. It would look quite bizarre brown..anybody in Gangnam feel like talking pictures for us this weekend?