Seoul South Korea
Invited by the POSCO consortium, lead design firm JYOON presented CONFLUENCE, a transformative large-scale urban master plan and mixed-use development for Block 1 in South Korea. Historically an ecological sanctuary where freshwater meets saltwater amidst rich mud flat patterns, the site was severely misused as an unregulated chemical factory district during South Korea's rapid post-1950s industrialization. Guided by the core principle to celebrate culture while rejuvenating nature, CONFLUENCE aims to turn back the clock by healing the land's industrial past while accommodating modern high-density urban living.
The master plan is organized around six distinct functional and ecological districts that flow organically toward the Yellow Sea, replicating four native biomes—woodlands, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, and tidal mud flats—to filter air, store carbon, manage stormwater, and restore wildlife habitats. Green and water corridors crisscross high-density residential and commercial zones, seamlessly connecting residents via sunken pathways and elevated pedestrian bridges to local culture and nature. The landscape transitions fluidly across three public-to-private realms (open community squares, buffer forests, and private modular gardens) featuring specialized zones such as wellness, romance, central, and silence gardens. Drawing architectural inspiration directly from coastal phenomena, the skyline is defined by four dynamic tower typologies: Tidal towers with subtle rectilinear curves mimicking coastal rhythms, Water point towers with wave-like modular facades, the twisted Wave twin-tower landmark connected by a fluid glass roof, and the Estuaries mixed-use high-rises encased in diagrid lattices inspired by mud flat patterns.