In Yeouido, Seoul, Heatherwick Studio has revealed its plan to renovate the Daegyo Apartments. 

Thomas Heatherwick, founder and design director of Heatherwick Studio, presented the scheme to the Residents’ Union today at a meeting of their General Assembly on 28 February 2026.

Near Hangang Park, along the Han River, the reconstruction will add about 900 new residences to replace the 576 existing units that were finished in 1975. 

Encompassing four residential towers, a sky garden, and a spacious ground floor, the project will be the studio's first residential construction in South Korea and will be accessible to both residents and the general public.

The design is inspired by natural shapes, in contrast to the sterile look of many high-rise residences that are frequently found in cities all over the world. The gentle silhouettes of the mountains encircling Seoul are echoed by the buildings' flowing rooflines.

Numerous community amenities, such as sports facilities, children's play spaces, and welfare services for senior citizens, will also be made available by the renovation. However, the building will truly come to life at ground level. 

In addition to providing moments of surprise and relief, the landscape's subterranean courtyards, shaded walkways, and terraced gardens will protect the development from nearby traffic by raising some of the site's margins.

"We’re excited about how this development will improve the daily lives of residents. This vision reflects the contributions of more than 600 union members, and the design unveiled today is the result of that collaborative effort," said Ms Heesun Chung, Chairperson of the Yeouido Daegyo Apartment Redevelopment Association. 

"We hope Daegyo becomes a significant chapter in Heatherwick Studio’s residential work in Korea – a place that lasts and is loved for generations," Chung added.

"We want this design to spark a fundamental rethink of how apartment living in Seoul should look, feel, and support everyday life. For too long, residents have had to accept endless repetitions of anonymous high-rise blocks," said Stuart Wood, Executive Partner at Heatherwick Studio.

"The need for change is now unmistakable. We believe people are ready for places that are more soulful, more unique, and deeply human," Wood added.

According to 1,000 Seoul residents polled for a Humanise Campaign study last year, they like homes that feel unique, textured, and well-maintained. 

Ninety-seven percent of the respondents had bad things to say about the buildings in apartment complexes today. They evoke strong negative reactions since they are perceived as soulless and dull; occupants claim that the monotone style makes them feel suffocated.

The most recent design in Heatherwick Studio's expanding portfolio of South Korean projects is Daegyo. In addition, the firm is redesigning Seoul's CoEx Convention Centre, Hanwha Galleria shopping center, and Nodeul Island. 

The fifth Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, which drew a record 811,000 attendees in 2025, was directed by Thomas Heatherwick.

All renderings © Devisual.

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