Korea

I can't ignore all these news anymore! So much is going on in the architectural world of Asia, and arguably, the hottest spot is Korea. And it's very exciting. Here I mention 3 major upcoming projects to be undertaken in Korea. It's a brief overview of what's going on. Clicking on the pictures will link you to a more comprehensive coverage.

1. Lotte World Tower II Hotel


This is the new Lotte World Tower II Hotel. It's going to be the second tallest building on Earth and the tallest building in Asia. At the moment, the tallest building is Burj Dubai, completed a month ago in September and it stands 818m tall. The Lotte World Tower II Hotel will be 555m tall. The Lotte World Tower follows with a suffix of 'II' because the first Lotte World Tower is currently being built in Busan, Korea, which stands approximately 510m tall. The Lotte Tower II will be a commercial mixed-use building, meaning it'll provide space for offices, homes, parking spaces, and shopping districts. Designed by the New York-based architectural firm Kohn Pederson Fox Architects, according to the Financial Times, the tower is estimated to cost $2 billion. Furthermore, aiming for LEED Silver certification, the Lotte Tower is projected to be complete in 2014.

LEED stands for 'The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design', and it's a rating system designed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. They're only selectively given to buildings that pass the minimum qualifications for sustainable design. There are 4 classes of LEED; from lowest to highest, there's Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

I hope they change their mind and go for LEED Gold.

2. Incheon Mixed-use Development


Incheon, situated west of Seoul, is going to undertake a massive change in the next couple of decade as the city attempts to revamp itself to more eco-friendly and sustainable city. Designed by Foster + Partners, the city centers around the railway system that is visible from the sky. Although fairly experimental in theory and concept, the masterplan is no dream. It's got the green light to go. It's going to happen!

3. Songdo International Business District


Designed by Kohn Pederson Fox Architects, the same firm that designed the Lotte Tower, Songdo is well on its way to facing its make-over. Already completed its phase 1, the $30 billion project is currently being implemented at Songdo. Located on the waterfront of Incheon, the 1,500 acre land will house 75,000 residents, and handle 300,000 commuters. Taking inspirations from all around the world, the new Songdo is going to feature Italianate canals, Savannah-style parks, Parisian boulevards, and a convention center modeled after Jørn Utzon’s iconic opera house. A bit too ambitious? Wait till you hear this; at least 120 of the buildings are aiming for some level of LEED certification. Incorporating the latest green technologies, the list of green design features includes, green roofs, LED lighting, co-generation, 75% of construction waste to be recycled, waste management system, low-VOC materials, expanded mass transit service, native landscaping and more.

Impressive? Awesome? Epic? Or all of the above?

All of the above.