Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

Dongdaemin Design Place (DDP) means Dream, Design, and Play. DDP was designed as a cultural center in the middle of Dongdaemun, a historic district of Seoul, now famous for its cafes and day and night shopping. Designed by world-renowned architect, Zaha Hadid, DDP is the world's largest atypical architecture and the first public project in Korea to use 3-D Building Information Modeling ( 3-Dimensional Building Information Modeling (BIM) and other digital tools in construction.

The project conceived by ZHA – with the main objective of creating a flexible complex of outdoor areas and public facilities open to all – transformed the site into a complex system that is connected around a portion of the old city walls, forming the backbone of the design and physically connecting a new public park, created with the Design Plaza building. The site of the DDP is one of the rare historical sites in Seoul, which once housed an east gate within the city's old defensive wall. During the construction of the center, the remains of a 16th-century parade ground were discovered and subsequently relocated in the park.

The DDP facade cladding system is the exemplary result of a thorough research process. The construction of the DDP's outer shell was challenging as the cladding system consisted of more than 45,000 panels in different sizes and degrees of curvature. This is made possible by using parametric modeling with advanced metalworking and fabrication processes to develop a series of custom systems. Parametric modeling allows cladding systems to be designed and manufactured with much higher cost and quality control. The finished façade incorporates a field of cut and perforated patterns, creating an animated effect depending on lighting conditions and seasonal changes. Sometimes the building will look like a separate entity, sometimes it blends in with the surrounding landscape as part of the complete complex of Dongdaemun. At night, the building will reflect all the LED lights and neon signs of the surrounding buildings. With the interaction of the integrated façade lighting, the appearance of the building will come to life and take on the characteristics of its unique landscape.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government held its biggest ever Seoul Fashion Week to celebrate the opening of Dongdaemun Design Plaza in 2014. Since the square's opening, the population coming to the area has increased by 10%. with the increasing number of foreign visitors. The government expects more than half of foreign tourists to South Korea to visit the Dongdaemun area, with this rejuvenated capital inflow boosting production and employment, about 881.7 billion won and 5,129 jobs, respectively.

DDP consists of five halls: Art Room, Museum, Design Lab, Design Market, and Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. Art Hall is the main launching pad for the Korean creative industry. The hall is the main venue for conferences, trade shows, exhibitions, fashion shows, concerts and performances. The Museum Hall brings together Korean designs and global trends. The Museum Lobby consists of five sections: Design Playground, Design Playground (trail), Design Museum, Design Gallery and Design Rest Area. The Design Lab acts as an incubator for emerging Korean and international innovative product designers. Design Market is a multipurpose space that combines culture, experience and shopping. This hall is open 24 hours a day for added convenience for visitors visiting Dongdaemun Market, the town that never sleeps.

Dongdaemun History & Culture Park is the newest park in downtown Seoul. The park gives a glimpse of how the area was used as a military training ground during the Joseon Dynasty. The park extends seamlessly onto DDP's rooftop, making it a truly unique park in Korea.

Address: 281 Eulji-ro, Euljiro 7(chil)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 - 19:00 (Monday: closed)

Admission: free