| Summary: | Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, February 2012. === Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. === Includes bibliographical references (p. 147). === In recent decades, Seoul in Korea has experienced a rapid economic and urban development. As a result, the city exposes extreme disharmony between different zones. For example, the heavy mega structures are inconsiderately located right next to the small old fabric district. The thesis especially focuses on the urban conflict between high-rise and low-rise residential areas. The later high-rising development impaired single family housing environment and drastically changed existing urban landscape and structure. Instead of pursuing coexistence and sharing, it chose to delete all the historical accumulation over time and to be inserted like an urban island in the city. The goal of this thesis is to reconcile these two - physically adjacent but, - in reality, totally separated residential areas in such a way that redesign the boundary while respecting the existing systems of two zones. This mediating zone will provide two areas with what those lack. Whereas infrastructure such as parking and circulation system will tie the old fabric up as a whole, bringing urbanity into mega block will enrich tower residents' urban life. The project will provide communal, commercial, and public - indoor and outdoor - programs serving for both zones. As an architectural device, the stair contributes to 3-dimensional organization of a current 2-dimensionally treated division. This thesis focuses three main attributes of stairs; First, the verticality of stairs connects two levels creating a sequence of experiences from the lower level to the higher level. Second, inhabitability of stairs implies that stairs can be used not only for circulation purpose but also occupiable space. Third, its strong figurativeness strengthens the degree of singularity as an urban artifact. === by Yoonhee Cho. === M.Arch.
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