Since the 1970s, large-scale apartment complexes in Seoul have been developed as an efficient solution to address housing shortages. However, over time, these developments have increasingly been criticized for their spatial isolation and lack of openn...
Since the 1970s, large-scale apartment complexes in Seoul have been developed as an efficient solution to address housing shortages. However, over time, these developments have increasingly been criticized for their spatial isolation and lack of openness, represented by perimeter walls, restricted access, and closed-off community facilities. Such spatial configurations have contributed to the fragmentation of urban pedestrian networks, the reduction of public spaces, and the reinforcement of social exclusion—ultimately undermining the public nature of residential environments. In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has sought to restructure apartment complexes through urban redevelopment, introducing various planning principles and institutional mechanisms aimed at promoting openness. Administrative interventions in the architectural review process have been intensified to encourage “open complexes,” while incentive-based tools such as public facility donations, special architectural districts, and the “Excellent Design Apartment” program have become key strategies in guiding such outcomes. Yet, the extent to which these mechanisms are realized in built environments remains unclear.
This study investigates how the administrative requirements for openness, as stipulated during the architectural review process, have influenced the design and operation of large-scale apartment complexes. To this end, the study first analyzes the language and expressions related to openness in the deliberation reports of 36 apartment complexes reviewed by the Seoul Architecture Committee. From this pool, nine representative cases were selected for in-depth analysis across three stages—initial planning, design modifications during review, and post-completion operations. In addition, written interviews were conducted with practitioners experienced in multi-family housing design and review to understand how they interpret and respond to the review process.
The findings reveal that the most frequently used terms related to openness in the deliberation reports include “pedestrian flow,” “public pedestrian paths,” “boundary design,” “external accessibility,” and “urban connectivity.” These expressions primarily reflect evaluative concerns about linking the complex to adjacent public infrastructure such as subway stations, schools, and parks. The recurrence of these terms suggests that architectural reviews serve as a mechanism to establish implicit design standards for external and shared spaces.
Three key patterns emerged regarding the realization of openness. First, in some cases, design revisions were made in response to strong administrative demands and institutional incentives (e.g., designation as an “Excellent Design Apartment” or inclusion in a special architectural district); however, public access was later delayed or restricted due to opposition from residents. Second, while pedestrian connectivity was generally implemented as planned, community facilities and donated public spaces were often operated exclusively for residents, resulting in only partial realization of the intended openness. Third, based on interview analysis, the study finds that openness and publicness are often deprioritized in apartment design practice due to their limited contribution to profitability. Therefore, their realization is more likely when supported by external motivations such as incentive systems or alignment with higher-level urban plans (e.g., green pedestrian networks). Furthermore, since passing the architectural review is a critical leverage point for persuading developers and construction firms, it is essential that the review process function as a consistent and credible mechanism for ensuring openness.
These findings suggest that physical interventions alone are insufficient to secure openness; rather, a coordinated implementation structure and accountability mechanism must be established across the entire planning-review-operation process. The study also warns that overly standardized language in the review process, if applied without contextual sensitivity, may restrict design flexibility and creativity. Thus, future policies on openness should evolve beyond abstract concepts and be grounded in comprehensive institutional frameworks that define clear responsibilities, procedures, and post-occupancy management. The architectural review process should serve as a mechanism for guiding the direction of openness, and it must provide persuasive justification and consistent standards.
By offering a multilayered analysis of how openness is addressed in the planning, review, and operational stages, this study provides empirical insight into the institutional dynamics and practical challenges of promoting publicness in multi-family housing. It also offers concrete implications for how large-scale apartment complexes can function as open, inclusive spaces within the urban fabric.