Peter Carl will open up the territory that we will examine in the coming weeks by talking about the foundations of what the city is for, from Aristotle to the Renaissance. He will then consider the ways we have made the city too easy to design, through economic and systemic thinking about the city. Finally, and in the light of climate change and the destructive economy, he will suggest some interpretations of the contemporary city our work within it. Responses from Florian Beigel, Robert Mull and the audience will help give a foundation to the critique that will emerge in the following lectures.
Financial Industry – Capitalism – Resources
Architecture
Incheon New Songdo City
Utopia project is not easy to successNew songdo city is under construction and some parts in this area are completed. To be a good city, it may need about 10 years. But, the citizens want to live in this kind of city after 10 years? Future city could be boundary between city and country side.
As an Incheon resident and someone who has visited New Songdo, My thoughts on New Songdo.
1) What were your first thoughts when arriving in New Songdo?
At first, I felt like I trip to overseas such as Dubai and other Middle East Asian countries. And, at the same time, I thought it will take about 10 years to be a proper city.
2) Why did you visit and how did you use the city?
I took a 5 weeks course that ‘Future Environment-friendly and Low energy Training’. This is intended for who has a qualification of architectural engineering or design. Visiting New Song do was a kind of field trip. I never been there before and after the trip, so I think hard to say I used the city. But, I heard from someone who were studying in Incheon University (They built a new campus in New songdo), she said there are no special activities and if don’t have a car, not easy to move around.
3) Can you describe your journey there and within New Songdo?
Education centre > Posco office > Yonsei University campus
In Posco office, we received a brief explanation of song do new city and go to the over the 20 floor and overlook the city.
In Yonsei University campus, we received presentation about their project about passive house and visit there model house.
So, unfortunately there is not much time to walk on the city.
4) What did you see on the streets and in the buildings?
There are a lot of under construction buildings, a few people on the streets and some shops, empty bus stops, a huge bus terminal.
In the Posco office, ground floor has a high ceiling hall which is connected underground station. It’s nice office building.
5) Do you think this will be beneficial to South Korea? Do you think it is a good way to plan and make a city?
-Incheon International airport is located in the one of island in Incheon. It is divided by sea so, the government was trying to make a international business district that can visit and work without visa. New song do can access this island within 30 min through the Incheon Bridge. Incheon city want to make the song do link the international business strict. If it can be, it will be helpful in the Incheon maybe S.Korea too. Actually Incheon city has a big debt because of lots of urban projects.
-It can be depand on the site but, in the new song do case, I think this plan is not bad. It is because Song do is reclaimed land. However, the point is not built buildings but how to make a proper city.
I also wonder how the city grows. Korean people prefer a tall apartment rather than a house different from British people. Also, we think the education environment is very important. So, International school and the tall apartment in song do can attract to people. Already "helicopter parents” interested in this school. I think they will move to here without hesitation. There is an example which is Gang-nam in Seoul. It was an extraordinarily vast field in the past but, the government made a business district. Also, a good school district was formed after that a lot of people move to here and formed rich village.
I found this really interesting, having visited Milton Keynes which is very different in form but was also completely planned have your reflections on New Songdo changed at all, what do you predict would still be problems in 10 years time?
ReplyDeleteIn New songdo case, the number of housing will be problem. Because, many cities have a lot of empty apartments in Korea also the birth rate of S. Korea is very low and getting lower. They build many high-rise apartments in there. They should set up measures such as open their property to foreigner. This huge district is built in a short time. However, the social problem and other problems from people will be change continuous and the buildings are difficult to change every problem. There are lots of opportunities but I curious about successful in Korea that already has plenty of new cities.
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