Korea II

Expanding on the previous entry, here's some more fascinating news. I figured I might as well empty out my load of news feed. Click on the pictures for a more comprehensive review, via inhabitat.com!

4. Incheon Stadium Design for 2014 Asian Games


Designed by architectural firms Populous and Heerim Architects and Planners, the 70,000-seating stadium will be built in Incheon for the upcoming 2014 Asian Games. Reflective of the Buddhist ritual dances, particularly of the Seung Moo dancers, the two facades of the stadium wrap themselves around the center to form a ying-yang symbol.

On a personal note, the design is phenomenologically, or aesthetically, appropriate and pleasing. But it's too literal, and when taken perspective from pedestrians and the users for the stadium, the design is a bit exaggerated and seems to lack economy of space and arrangements. And also, although they've announced that the building will be 'green', they have yet to release the eco-effective design details and sustainability features.

5. OLED Breakthrough from KAIST


A few weeks ago, I posted an entry on a concept design for laptops, called rolltops. What I forgot to mention in the post was that the backbone of the concept of the rolltop was the new, rising OLED technology (short for Organic Light-Emitting Diode). The OLED technology exists today and are applied in expensive, yet consumable products such as digital cameras, monitors, and MP3 players. The main difference between OLED and LCD, which stands for Liquid Crystal Displays, is that OLED does not require a backlight. This translates into a much thinner and even bendable screens, like the rolltop.

KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) recently announced a breakthrough in OLED technology, reducing the energy consumption of OLED up to 75%. The OLED, or its umbrella family of LED (Light-Emitting Diode), compared to traditional incandescent or fluorescent light sources, is already more energy-efficient and have far more applications in everyday appliances. So a further advancements on its efficiency is, say, awesome-squared. Although it'll be years before we will see this in the commercial markets, it's still cool to follow up on the progress!

6. Green Roofed Dongdaemun Plaza


I've always thought Dongdaemun referred to the Heunginjimun, or "Gate of Rising Benevolence". But apparently, it refers to a larger part of Seoul of shopping district with open streets and department stores. Hm, I wonder what else I'm misinformed of.

A Pritzker winner, the highest distinction awarded to architects annually, Zaha Hadid designed the Dongdaemun Plaza. It will feature green roofs, plenty of space, multi-purpose park, a design museum, a library, other educational facilities, and commercial, mixed-use spaces. It's expected to be completed by 2010. I believe this is Zaha Hadid's first project in Korea. Pretty neat.