Design in Korea: Week 10

Music Shop Rooftop

Location: Insadong, Seoul

I decided to include this picture for realism's sake in my design review of Korea. Not every city is a design hub, and there certainly isn't a palace on every corner. With all of the high fashion and even higher tech to be found here, it is sometimes hard to believe and remember that under a century ago this place was full of thatched roof houses and hand-to-mouth living. With this in mind, it is not surprising to see that some things look like they were set up in a hurry. This balcony view shows jumble nests of electric wires, ribbed metal roofs, and the classic "bathroom-tile" building exterior in the background - consistent archetypes throughout the country where clean aesthetic design was sacrificed for efficiency. Still, all of this is set up next to the lovely Tapgol Park where locals came together for a music festival under the monument tower.