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Architectural history

Korean architecture refers to the architecture of Korea. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (900x1200, 1000 KB) Alcázar de Sevilla camera: Kodak DX7440 Source: *Daniel Csorfoly File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Architecture of Cambodia Architecture of the United States... Critical Regionalism is an approach to architecture that strives to counter the placelessness and lack of meaning in Modern Architecture by using contextual forces to give a sense of place and meaning. ... The architecture of Africa, like other aspects of the culture of Africa, is hugely diverse. ... Architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina is largely influenced by 4 major periods where political and social changes influenced the creation of distinct cultural and architectural habits of the population. ... The architecture of the United Kingdom has a long and diverse history from beyond Stonehenge to the designs of Norman Foster and the present day. ... Christ Church Cathedral founded c. ... Saint Basils Cathedral (1555-61) is a showcase of medieval Russian architecture. ... The Architecture of Sweden. ... Stabbur in Setesdal, about 1890 The architecture of Norway has evolved significantly over several thousand years in response to changing economic conditions, technology, and demographics, but maintains many common characteristics. ... Chinese architecture refers to a style of architecture that has taken shape in Asia over the centuries. ... Indonesian Architecture reflects the same diversity of cultural, historical, and geographic influences that have shaped Indonesia as a whole. ... The need to rebuild Japan after World War II proved a great stimulus to Japanese architecture, and contemporary Japanese buildings rank with the finest in the world in terms of technology and formal conception. ... Dzong architecture is a distinctive type of fortress architecture found in the former and present Buddhist kingdoms of the Himalayas, most notably Bhutan. ... Angkor Wat The Architecture of Cambodia developed in a series of stages under the Khmer empire from 9th to the 15th century, preserved in many buildings of the Angkor temple. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Stupa at Swayambhunath Newari architecture is the architecture developed by Newars. ... Water Fountain in Istanbul, 1878 Ottoman architecture is the architecture of the Ottoman Empire which emerged in Bursa and Edirne in 14th and 15th centuries. ... The Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his wife, represents the pinnacle of Mughal Islamic architecture in India and is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. ... Naghsh-i Jahan Square, Isfahan, is the second largest square in the world and arguably the gem of Persian architectural masterpieces. ... Cliff Palace Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America. ... Bermuda has developed its own unique architecture, which helps it overcome two of its greatest adversities: hurricanes and the islands complete lack of natural fresh water supplies. ... View of Machu Picchu Incan architecture is the most significant pre-Columbian architecture in South America. ... Hawaiian architecture is a distinctive style of architectural arts developed and employed primarily in the Hawaiian Islands of the present-day United States — buildings and various other structures indicative of the people of Hawaii and the environment and culture in which they live. ... Mesoamerican architecture is the set of architectural traditions produced by pre-Columbian cultures and civilizations of Mesoamerica, traditions which are best known in the form of public, ceremonial and urban monumental buildings and structures. ... The United States has a history of architecture that includes a wide variety of styles. ... Architecture in Australia shows the substantial influence of that of English architecture with contemporary Australian architecture being more eclectic reflecting the multiculturalism of Australian society particularly post World War 2. ... Architectural history studies the evolution and history of architecture across the world through a consideration of various influences- artistic, cultural, political, economic and technological. ... The Parthenon on top of the Acropolis, Athens, Greece Architecture (from Latin, architectura and ultimately from Greek, αρχιτεκτων, a master builder, from αρχι- chief, leader and τεκτων, builder, carpenter) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... Korea (Korean: 한국 or 조선, see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ...

Introduction

Ancient architecture (Neolithic–7th century)

A Silla pagoda.

The Neolithic period was when the early stages of Korean architecture began. Archaeological evidence of ondol, the unique Korean floor panel heating system, was found at the remains of the burnished plain pottery culture and the development of the vertical wall was evident in the primitive houses of this culture. Silla stone pagoda near Gyeongju, South Korea. ... Silla stone pagoda near Gyeongju, South Korea. ... Archaeology, archeology, or archology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech/discourse) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ... Ondol is a traditional Korean underfloor heating system, similar in principle to a Roman hypocaust. ...

Dolmens, which were primitive tombs of important persons, have been found in the Korean peninsula. There are two types of dolmens: the southern type, which is low and often a simple slab without supporting stones; and the northern type, which is larger and more definite in shape. The distribution of the dolmens would imply some relation to the megalithic cultures of the Western world. It has been suggested that Portal dolmen be merged into this article or section. ... Megalithic tomb, Mane Braz, Brittany A megalith is a large stone which has been used to construct a structure or monument either alone or with other stones. ...

During this period building techniques of houses evolved from a pit dwelling to that of an earthen wall with thatched roof, to that of a log cabin construction, and finally, to a raised floor construction.

In 109 B.C.E., the Chinese commandery at Nangnang (Lo-lang) was established in the northwest region of Korea. Official buildings of this period were built of wood and brick and roofed with tiles having the features of Chinese construction. Chinese architecture strongly influenced Korean architecture at this time, creating a basis for further Korean development. Lelang (樂浪郡 le4 lang4 jun4) was one of the Chinese commanderies which was kept in the Korean Peninsula over 400 years. ...

After the fall of Nangnang in 313, Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, expanded her territory to included half of Manchuria and all of north Korea. Two different types of tombs evolved during this period: one is a stepped pyramid made of stone, while the other is a large earth mound form. Goguryeo (traditional dates 37 B.C. – A.D. 668) was a kingdom in northern Korea and a large part of Manchuria. ... The Three Kingdoms of Korea were Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of northeastern China for much of the 1st millennium CE. The Three Kingdoms period in Korea is usually considered to run from the 1st century BCE until Sillas triumph over Goguryeo in...

Baekje was founded in 18 BC and its territory included the west coast of the Korean peninusula. After the fall of Nangnang, Paekche established friendships with China and Japan. Great temples were built during this time. The earliest stone pagoda of the Miruk Temple in Iksan country is of particular interest because it shows the transitional features from a wooden pagoda to a stone one. The art and architecture of the Paekche period had a touch of elegance, refinement and warmth. Paekche assimilated diverse influences and expressed its derivation from Chinese models. Later, important elements of the architectural style of Paekche were adopted by Japan. Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE) was a kingdom in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula. ... A pagoda at Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in China, Japan, Korea, and other parts of Asia. ... Iksan is a city and major railway junction in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. ...

Cheomsongdae, ancient astronomical observatory built during the reign of Queen Seondeok.

Silla was the last of the three kingdoms to develop into a full-fledged kingdom. Again many great temples were built, but the most famous architectural development is Cheomseongdae, said to be the first stone observatory in Asia, built during the reign of Queen Seondeok (632-646). The structure is famous for its unique and elegant form. Image File history File linksMetadata Cheomseongdae. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Cheomseongdae. ... Silla (also spelled Shilla, traditional dates 57 BCE - 935 CE) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. ... Cheomseongdae is a stone tower that seems to have been built in the middle 7th century in Gyeongju by Silla. ... Queen Seondeok of Silla(善徳女王) ruled Silla from 632 to 647. ...

United Silla architecture (7th–10th century)

After the unification of the Korean peninsula into the kingdom of United Silla, Korean institutions were radically transformed. United Silla absorbed the fully matured culture of the T'ang dynasty in China, and at the same time developed a unique cultural identity. New Buddhist sects were introduced from the T'ang and Buddhist art flourished. It was a great period of peace and cultural advancement in all helds of the arts.

Architecture flourished in the royal capital of Kyongju, though almost all traces of the former glory have vanished at the present time. The city with nealy a million inhabitants at her peak was strategically located at the junction of two rivers and three mountains encircling a fertile basin of about five by seven miles in area. The urban area of the city was developed and expanded in three stages. In the second stage, when Hwangyong Temple was located in the center, the region was developed into the grid network of road patterns with wide streets.

One of the Palace sites is marked by the artificial lake of Annap with stone works of retaining walls delineating the former building location. The residential district of the nobles in the city was composed of great houses which were constructed conforming to the building code that granted privileges to the nobles, but forbidden to the commoners. Tiles from many ruins of the buildings were found everywhere. Of those that are still intact, show elegant and graceful design.

The plans of Buddhist temples were characterized by two pagodas in front of the central main hall in a symrnetrical layout on the north-south axis with other buildings. Pulguk Temple, built on a stone platform at the foothill of Mt. Toham near Kyongju, is the oldest existing temple in Korea. The temple was first founded early in the sixth century and was entirely rebuilt and enlarged in 752. The original platform and foundations have remained intact to the present, but the existing wooden buildings were reconstructed during the Choson dynasty.

The stone work of the two story platform exhibits a superb sense of architectural organization and advanced building methods. Two stone pagodas stand in front of the main hall of the temple. The simpler Sokka-top located to the left of the court represents Buddha's manifestation in a transcendent calm. It has three stories with two pedestal layers and a total height reaching about twenty-five feet. The pagoda consists of simple undecorated pedestal slabs and three story stupa each of which has five stepped eaves and truncated roofs. These characteristics constitute a typical form of the Korean stone pagodas.

To the right of the court, the complex Tabo-tap represents Buddha's manifestation in a diversified universe, and is unique in Korea, further so in Asia. With a height of thirty-five feet, this pagoda has one pedestal with a staircase on each side, four main stories with balustrade and is characterized by the final crown-ball-and-plate sequence. The design motif of the lotus flower is apparent in mouldings and other details of the pagoda.

The rock cave shrine of Sokkuram is located on the crest of Mt. Toham. It was built by the same master architect of Pulguk Temple, and built around the same era. This cave shrine was artificially and skillfully constructed with granite blocks and covered with an earth mound on top to give the appearance of a natural landscape. The shrine boasts a rectangular anteroom lined with large stone slabs carved with the figures of the protectors of Buddhism on each side of the walls and at the entrance passageway to the main chamber. The circular main chamber covered by an elegant dome ceiling and surrounded by carved stone wall panels depicting bodhisattvas and the ten disciples. The graceful statue of Buddha on a lotus pedestal in the center is the dominant feature of the chamber.

Rock cave shrines are not rare in Asia, but few of these shrines and sculptures reveal such high level of artistry. None are as religiously and artistically complete in overall design as those at Sokkuram

Goryeo architecture (10th–14th century)

Much of the architecture of this time was inspired by Buddhism, such as magnificent Buddhist temples and the Korean pagoda. Unfortunately, since most of the architecture of this time was built of wood, little has survived to the present day. Also, the capital of Goryeo was based in Gaesong, in modern day North Korea, which has made this era especially problematic to study for historians at large. A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found in Sarnath, near Varanasi. ... The Buddhist temple Wat Chiang Man, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which dates from the late 13th century Buddhist temples and monasteries, sorted by location. ...

Joseon architecture (14th–19th century)

Joseon dynasty court architecture

The founding of the Joseon dynasty in 1392 brought to power like-minded men steeped in the doctrines of Neo-Confucianism, which had slowly percolated into Korea from China in the 14th century. This ushered in a new environment that was relatively hostile to Buddhism, causing the state to gradually shift its patronage from Buddhist temples to Confucian institutions. Throughout the early dynasty, the impetus to reform society along Neo-Confucian lines led to the construction of hyanggyo (local schools) in Seoul and numerous provincial cities. Here, sons of the aristrocracy prepared for civil service careers in an atmosphere of Confucian learning. Although these institutions endured through the end of the dynasty, they began to fall out of favor in the mid-16th century for a variety of reasons. Among these, the rise in population made it the prospects of a civil service career less likely than in earlier years. Also, as the yangban aristocracy matured in its understanding of Neo-Confucianism, they grew more selective in the quality and type of instruction they favored for their sons. As a result, private confucian academies (seowon) gradually supplanted hyanggyos and became a staple of rural aristocratic life until the end of the dynasty. Image File history File links Korean_architecture_roof_detail_2. ... Image File history File links Korean_architecture_roof_detail_2. ... The Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) (also Choson), sometimes known as the Yi Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by General Yi Seonggye in what is modern day Korea, and lasted for five centuries as one of the worlds longest running monarchies. ...

Neo-Confucianism inspired new architectural paradigms. Jaesil, or clan memorial halls, became common in many villages where extended families erected facilities for common veneration of a distant ancestor. Jongryo, or memorial shrines, were established by the government to commemorate exceptional acts of filial piety or devotion. Even beyond these architypes, the aesthetics of Neo-Confucianism, which favored practicality, frugality, and harmony with nature, forged a consistent architectural style throughout Korean society.

Japanese occupation architecture (1910-1945)

During the Japanese occupation of Korea, there was a systematic attempt by the Empire of Japan to destroy native Korean architecture and replace it with Japanese architecture. Korea was occupied and under Japanese rule during the period of Japans administrative control of the Korean peninsula in the early 20th century from 1910 to 1945. ... now. ... The need to rebuild Japan after World War II proved a great stimulus to Japanese architecture, and contemporary Japanese buildings rank with the finest in the world in terms of technology and formal conception. ...

Important architectural sites were destroyed, often by burning. Significant elements of landscaping, such as Korean gardens, were razed, with important artistic pieces sold or taken to Japan, even to the extent of ancient bunjae trees taken for replanting in Japanese bonsai gardens. It was at this time as well that the traditional religious architecture was discouraged. Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including but not limited to: living elements, such as flora or fauna; natural elements such as landforms, terrain shape and elevation, or bodies of water; human elements such as structures, buildings, fences or other material... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Bunjae are the traditional small cropped and cut minature trees often seen within Korean houses. ... A bonsai trident maple growing in the root over rock style. ...

Japanese architecture was first introduced in the Korean transportation networks. Railroad lines saw the construction of Japanese-style rail stations and hotels. Ports as transit points, however, had limited construction. Inland, the Japanese built new city halls, barracks and military bases, jail and prisons, police stations, and police boxes. Having prohibited the teaching of the Korean language in schools, Japan built many new schools along Japanese educational models. Korean architectural schools were subsequently closed, and Korean architects were required to train only in Japan and encouraged to design exclusively along Japanese models when they returned. While the assumption was that Western influences on Japanese architects would have transferred to Korea, this did not happen. This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... Passengers bustle around the typical grand edifice of Londons Broad Street Station in 1865. ... The 4-star Manor House Hotel at Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England. ... Seaport, a painting by Claude Lorrain, 1638 The Port of Wellington at night. ... It has been suggested that Town Hall be merged into this article or section. ... Barracks are military housing. ... A military base is a facility, settlement, reservation, or installation that shelters military equipment and personnel. ... A typical suburban police station in the United States (this one is in San Bruno, California). ... This koban is a landmark in the Ginza district of Tokyo A kōban (交番) is a Japanese police box. ... The Korean language (, see below) is the official language of both North and South Korea. ...

Materials were in short supply, with the Japanese logging almost all old-growth forests and shipping particularly large cypress logs to Japan, taking any other building materials of use for export. It left Korean buildings unrestored and neglected, and contributed to the deterioration of much of Korean architectural history. Historic buildings were also decorated by Japanese ornamentation. Loggers on break, c. ... Genera Actinostrobus Athrotaxis Austrocedrus Callitris - Cypress-pine Callitropsis - Cypress * (Cupressus) Calocedrus - Incense-cedar Chamaecyparis - Cypress Cryptomeria - Sugi Cunninghamia - Cunninghamia Cupressus - Cypress Diselma - Diselma Fitzroya - Alerce Fokienia - Fujian Cypress Glyptostrobus - Chinese Swamp Cypress Juniperus - Juniper Libocedrus Metasequoia - Dawn Redwood Microbiota - Microbiota Neocallitropsis Papuacedrus * (Libocedrus) Pilgerodendron * (Libocedrus) Platycladus - Chinese Arborvitae Sequoia - Coast...

The Japanese discarded European cultural influences in Korea as well, meaning that Korea had in a period spanning about 55 years in which there were no influences of art nouveau, art deco, Bauhaus, or style moderne, and no influence until the post-war period of American architecture, such as skyscrapers or large-scale apartment buildings. Poster by Alfons Mucha Art Nouveau /art nuvo/, Anglicised /ˈɑːt nuːvəu/ (French for new art) is a style in art, architecture and design that peaked in popularity at the beginning of the 20th century. ... Asheville City Hall. ... Reconstructed main building of the Bauhaus Dessau (2003). ... Americas unmistakable contribution to architecture has been the skyscraper, whose bold, thrusting lines have made it the symbol of capitalist energy. ... Taipei 101, the worlds tallest building architecturally, is located in Taipei City, Taiwan. ...

Post-war period and Korean War architecture

After the unconditional surrender in 1945, American architecture assumed supremacy. Under Douglas MacArthur, who set Korean domestic and political policy from the Supreme Command of the Allied Powers headquarters in Tokyo. Korean architecture by Koreans began once again in domestic areas, with extensive repair of the missionary churches being given priority funding. Essential repair to infrastructure followed, more patch-work than new projects, and block-built hospitals, schools, industries began simple construction under military supervision. Unconditional surrender refers to a surrender without conditions, except for those provided by international law. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964) was an American general and Medal of Honor recipient, who was Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during World War II. He lost the Philippines, but led the defense of Australia, and the recapture of New Guinea, the... Tokyo , literally Eastern capital)   is the capital of Japan. ...

Seoul had survived much of World War II but during the Korean War (1950-1953), many buildings were destroyed, with the city changing command between North Korean and South Korean powers five times. Street-to-street fighting and artillery barrages levelled much of the city, as well as the bridges over the Han River. Important architectural sites were over-run and burnt by invading People's Liberation Army forces, looting was extensive, and the urban landscape suffered with little money for repairs. Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... Combatants UN combatants: Republic of Korea United States United Kingdom Canada Australia The Netherlands France Philippines Communist combatants: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea People’s Republic of China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee Chung Il Kwon Douglas MacArthur Mark W. Clark Matthew Ridgway Kim Il-sung Choi Yong-kun... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... North Korea, officially the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK; Korean: Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk; Hangul: 조선민주주의인민공화국; Hanja: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國), is a country in eastern Asia... Motto: (Broadly bring benefit to humanity, ) [citation needed] Anthem(s): Aegukga Capital Seoul Largest city Seoul Official language(s) Korean Government Republic  - President Roh Moo-hyun  - Prime Minister Han Myung-sook Establishment    - Gojoseon October 3, 2333 BC (legendary)   - Declaration of Republic March 1, 1919 (de jure)   - Liberation August 15, 1945... US Marines fight in the city of Fallujah during Operation Al Fajr (New Dawn) in November 2004. ... Historically, artillery (from French artillerie) refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... Han River is the name of four unrelated rivers: Han River, or Han Gang, is a river in Korea, passing through Seoul and entering the Yellow Sea Han River, or Han Shui, is a tributary of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in central China Han River, or Han Jiang, is... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Looting (which derives via the Hindi lut from Sanskrit lunt, to rob), sacking, or plundering is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe or riot, such as during war [1], natural disaster [2], rioting [3], or terrorist attack...

Modern architecture

With the armistice, and distinct architectural styles determined by foreign governments began a long period of development.

In the north, Stalinist and absolutist, often brutalist architecture, was championed. North Korean architects studied in Moscow or soviet satellites, and brought back socialist worker styles and huge celebratory people's architecture on a grand and massively impressive scale. Nomenclatura lived in Soviet-style apartment blocks, farmers and rural workers lived in traditional houses as they had always, urbanization did not occur. Grand buildings and huge public squares were developed in Pyongyang as architectural showpieces. Formal processional landscapes accompanied these sites. Nearly all architecture was government sponsored, and maintained great homogeneity of function and style. Unrealised design for the Palace of Soviets, Moscow. ... Unité dHabitation, Marseille (Le Corbusier 1952) Brutalism is an architectural style that spawned from the modernist architectural movement and which flourished from the 1950s to the 1970s. ... Location Position of Moscow in Europe Government Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Geographical characteristics Area  - City 1,081 km² Population  - City (2005)    - Density 10,415,400   8537. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Motto: Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Russian: Workers of the world, unite!) Anthem: The Internationale (1922-1944) Hymn of the Soviet Union (1944-1991) Capital (largest city) Moscow None; Russian de facto Government Federation of Soviet Republics  - Last President Mikhail Gorbachev  - Last Premier Ivan Silayev Establishment October Revolution   - Declared 30... Pyongyang is the capital city of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at (39. ...

In the south, American models defined all new Korean buildings of any importance, with domestic architecture both civil and rural keeping to traditional buildings, building techniques, and using local materials, and local vernacular styles. The pragmatic need to rebuild a country devastated by genocide, then a civil war, led to ad hoc buildings with no particular styles, extended repeatedly, and a factory system of simple cheap expendable buildings. As few Korean cities had a grid-system, and were often given limits by mountains, few if any urban landscapes had a sense of distinction; by the mid-1950s, rural areas were underfunded, urban areas overfilled, and urban sprawl began with little money to build distinctive important buildings. The 1950s was the decade spanning the years 1950 to 1959. ...

Buildings were built as quickly as money and demand would allow in a workman-like anonymous way, but without individual identities. Architects were almost to a man trained in the United States, and brought American design, perspective, and methods without much recourse to the local community look and feel. As the need for housing for workers increased, traditional hangok villages were razed, hundreds of simple cheap apartments were put up very fast, and bedroom communities on the periphery of the urban centres grew, built and financed as company housing. Little effort was made to have a sense of an architectural aesthetic. Commuters waiting for the morning train in Maplewood, New Jersey A bedroom community, dormitory town, or commuter town is a community that is primarily residential in character, with most of its workers commuting to a nearby town or city to earn their livelihood. ...

Apartment buildings in Seongnam city, South Korea

This urgency for simple fast housing left most Korean downtowns as faceless as Hong Kong: concrete towers for work or living and local neighborhoods rebuilt with cheap materials. Little or no attempt was made for planning, if planning had been possible. In the countryside, traditional building continued. Seongnam is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. ...

Well into the 1980s, Korea had architecture, but its buildings had little aesthetic, a limited sense of design, and did not integrate into the neighbourhoods, or culture. Awareness that functionality had reached its limits came quickly as Korea moved into the world through sports culture. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Sports architecture: transition to a Korean style

The Republic of Korea, won the 1986 Asian Games, and the 1988 Olympic games, which spurred waves of new building activity. To market the country globally, international architects submitted designs and this influenced alternative concepts of buildings that began to put style and form ahead of spartan practicality. Historically, sports architecture has occupied the most money and the greatest expression of form identity within Korea. Hundreds of billions of won have been spent on defining Korea as a sports mecca with the architecture leading the way. The 10th Asian Games were held from September 20, 1986 to October 5, 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. ... The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were held in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. ...

As in the North, most of the largest projects in the South were government sponsored works: but instead worked in confined, rather than open spaces, and worked with huge amounts of enclosed space, primarily in the state subsidized hugely expensive sports architecture. Korea since the 1980s had its most famous architectural works driven by sports: the Asian Games (1986), the Olympics (1988), and the 2002 World Cup stadia, as well as great support being given by the chaebols such as Samsung who owned the sports teams that would become their tenants. The Asian Games, also called the Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. ... The 2002 Football World Cup (Official name: 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan) was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. ... Chaebol are South Koreas business conglomerates. ... Samsung Group is one of the largest South Korean business groupings. ...

Important architects at this time and their buildings often led by the atelier-style architectural co-operative Space Group of Korea were:

• Park Kil-ryong
• Jungup Kim or Kim Chung-up - Trained in France and designed the Olympic Memorial Gate/World Peace Gate, 1988.
• Jongseong Kim - Weight Lifting Gymnasium, Olympic Park, 1986.
• Kim Su-keun who trained in Tokyo - Olympic Stadium. 1984. Total area is 133,649metres³, 100,000seats, 245×180m diameter, 830m in perimeter.
• Gyusung Woo - Olympic Village, 1984.

It wasn't until the late 1980s and early 1990s that an entirely new generation of Korean architects had the freedom and the financing to build Korean architecture in a distinct Korean manner. This was a result of architects studying and training in Europe, Canada, and even in South America, and seeing the need for more of a sense of unique style, and newer sophisticated materials. See also 1990s, the band The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, sometimes informally including popular culture from the late 1980s and shortly after the year 2000. ...

There was a new determination that nationalistic architectural elements had to be revived and refined. Buildings had to mean something within their cultural context.

Post-modern Korean architecture (1986–2005)

Cultural and museum buildings have followed; with city halls and buildings for the civil service appearing generally in a New York/Chicago style rather than following London or Paris trends.

Individuality and experimentation became the new cause for young architects, however the country as a whole was slow to move from the old traditions into seeing good architecture aesthetics as being important to the sense of a village, town, or city. Change was forced at times against intense resistance, and new buildings evolved at great cost to the architects and builders and within a great tension.

Much of the growth of new architecture came from retail stores, clothing shops, bistros, cafes, and bars; and the underside of architectural commissions, rather than from major government contracts or the financial and corporate community. Foreign corporations setting up Korean headquarters also brought in an entirely new spirit of architecture to define their own visions.

Important architects at this time include:

• Um Tok-mun - Sejong Cultural Centre
• Kim Seok-Chul - Seoul Arts Centre
• Korean Architects Collaborative International under the guidance of Fentress Bradburn Architects - Incheon International Airport

External links

• Asian Historical Architecture
• History of Korean architecture by Shin Young-hoon
• A Brief History of Korean Architecture
• ENHR Conference report by Jun, N.I., Hong, H.O. and Professor Yang on Japan's occupation architecture in Korea
• Junglim, a leading edge architectural atelier
• Visuals and plans of Junglim's larger projects
• Korean contemporary building, cityscapes shown to indicate changes
• Silla Architecture
• Yi Jongho's atelier designs