ATHLETES’ AND REPORTERS’ VILLAGE, GAMES OF THE 24TH OLYMPIAD

seoul, republic of korea

The design was selected through an international competition sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The massing of the Village recalls the introverted organization of the traditional Korean Village: set in a bowl-shaped terrain, the houses occupy the surrounding hillsides and public facilities are concentrated at lower elevations. 24-story towers are placed at the outer edge of the complex and the buildings gradually decrease in height towards the center reflecting this traditional form. During the games, the complex housed 13,000 athletes and 7,000 journalists. After the Games, the facilities form a single community of 5,540 units of housing and community facilities, including a subway station, three schools, and religious, cultural, recreational, and retail facilities.

“In the case of Seoul’s Olympic Village, [the architect has] set the stage for future development with an inspiring model for new towns.” —Architectural Record