7 Architectural Gems From The K-Dramas of 2020

Starfield Library

The Starfield bookstore appears in the drama Record of young (2020) and is part of the CEOX, the largest shopping mall on the Asian continent located in Seoul's Gangnam district which includes shops, convention center, hotels, casinos, cinema, library, offices. This complex of services had already been the subject of renovations in the past, but it needed to be connected by public transport in the city in fact there is a bus terminal that connects to Icheon International Airport and two metro stations.

Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth (2020)

Starfield Library

The latest renovation was designed by the American studio Gensler which managed to reorganize the spaces and paths as well as increase natural light. The Starfield bookstore inaugurated in 2017, is located right in the middle of this underground mega-structure covered by an all-glass roof and is organized on two floors for a total of 2500sqm, collects over 50 thousand books and 600 thousand international magazines.

Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth (2020)

Starfield Library

The space is carefully designed to accommodate areas for reading, presenting books and conferences. All the furniture and finishes have been carefully selected, for the floor prestige was chosen a wood effect enamelled tile inspired by the essence of oak produced by the Italian company Marca Corona Italian ceramics since 1741. For the chairs, the ARA 310 model by Pedrali by designer Jorge Pensi was chosen. The elegance derives from the combination of warm tones characterized by different shades of natural wood, furnishes the environment with a sense of naturalness making the library even more welcoming and at the same time relaxing.

Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth (2020)

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

Starfield Library

Photo Credit: @starfield.library

KB Youth Step

Also appearing in Record of Youth (2020), the KB RockStar Youth Step has transformed the Seokyo branch building of KB Kookmin Bank, designed in 1968 by Space Group founded by architect Kim Swoo-Geun, into a cultural facility for young people. The site is located at the point where the road connecting Hongik Univ station. and the University of Hongik crosses the pedestrian path or Juchajang-gil.

Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth (2020)

KB Youth Step

The area has become a commercial area attracting new types of consumers especially young and foreign, who frequent it especially on weekends and at night.The basic idea of the square has been developed in order to create a dynamic space with the presence of stairs and the terrace with the intention of making the new KB Youth Step an open public space on the city.

Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth (2020)

KB Youth Step

The stairs create continuous circulation from the basement to the roof, naturally attracting urban circulation in the building. These spaces lend themselves well to hosting many activities including shows, conferences, seminars, a book café, a resting place, offices, seminar room, classroom, meeting room, exhibition hall or café.

Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth (2020)

KB Youth Step

The renovation project also considered the need to preserve some architectural elements (columns, floors, brick walls and internal stairs) of the Hongdae area so as not to make the mistake of demolishing buildings that are now an integral part of the collective memory.

Photo Credit: @namsun_lee

KB Youth Step

Photo Credit: @namsun_lee

KB Youth Step

Photo Credit: @namsun_lee

KB Youth Step

Photo Credit: @namsun_lee

KB Youth Step

Photo Credit: @namsun_lee

KB Youth Step

Photo Credit: @namsun_lee

KB Youth Step

Photo Credit: @namsun_lee

KB Youth Step

Photo Credit: @namsun_lee

The Shrine of Our Lady of Rosary

In the drama Record of young (2020) the two protagonists drive to Namyang not far from Seoul and to be precise to visit a sacred place The Shrine of Our Lady of Rosary by Mario Botta. This project started in 2011 is not yet finished, and consists of a large park with some architectural elements and the large basilica being completed. The basilica consists of 2300 seats at the top and a 330-seat chapel with offices, amenities and a small shop.

Photo Credit: @mariobottaarchitetti_official

The Shrine of Our Lady of Rosary

The main façade opens onto the valley and is characterized by two large cylindrical brick apses 40 m high in the middle of which there is a lookout with panoramic terrace. The sacred space is very important for the architect Mario Botta, in fact his studio has designed many sacred buildings all over the world. The sacred building is always designed following the same pattern composed of altar and people of faithful, what changes over the centuries is the architectural style that the architect has been able to interpret with great feeling. Inside the basilica are the works of the artist Giuliano Vangi who Botta has commissioned a wooden Christ 3.60 meters high that will be hung 9 meters high with large arms to welcome the many faithful. Two drawings by Giuliano Vangi will be added to Christ: the last supper and the annunciation. These drawings 3 meters high and developed for 40 meters in length will be transferred to the glass with an experimental screen printing technique, their peculiarity is that they have been drawn both on the front and on the back returning to the faithful the representation of the two sacred moments from two different points of view.

Photo Credit: @mariobottaarchitetti_official

Oil Tank Culture Park

In Start Up (2020), the Oil Tank Culture Park provided the location for the fictional Sand Box. It is a former oil depot located in Mapo-gu, Seoul that lay in a state of neglect until 2014, the year in which the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to hold a competition for its redevelopment.

Photo Credit: Still from Start Up (2020)

Oil Tank Culture Park

Among the 95 projects received was chosen that of the projet team formed by Heo Seogoo and RoA architects concluded in 2017. The project aims to preserve and rehabilitate this historically important site for the city by transforming it into a cultural container. The 6 oil tanks were not smartellated, but were transformed into show places, exhibition halls and learning spaces.

Photo Credit: Still from Start Up (2020)

Oil Tank Culture Park

Photo Credit: @danesexplores

Oil Tank Culture Park

Photo Credit: @tasha_lovins

Oil Tank Culture Park

Photo Credit: @tasha_lovins

Oil Tank Culture Park

Photo Credit: Still from Start Up (2020)

Prugio Summit

In my Holo Love (2020), we saw Prugio Summit, also used for past K-Dramas, Personal taste (2010) and Her Private Life (2019).

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Daniela Astolfi

Prugio Summit

This 2003 building is part of the Prugio residential complex built in 1994 by Daewoo E&C, it is a quality cultural space where visitors can experience and customize the type of housing proposed by Prugio in harmony with nature and the most modern technologies.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Daniela Astolfi

Prugio Summit

Photo Credit: Still from My Holo Love (2020)

Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

The drama The King: Eternal Monarch (2020) features the Saseongam Hermitage, a location also used as a set in other dramas such as Moon lovers (2016), Huno (2010) and The land (2004).

Photo Credit: Still from The King Eternal Monarch (2020)

Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

The Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage (암) is a small Buddhist temple located in Gurye, near Osan, on foot from South Korea's holest mountain, Jirisan.

Photo Credit: Still from The King Eternal Monarch (2020)

Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

The original name of the Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage was Osanam, before it was renamed Saseongam, in honor of Yeongi Josa (who had it built in 544) and three of Korea's greatest Buddhist masters who lived and studied there.

Photo Credit: Still from The King Eternal Monarch (2020)

Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

Two main pavilions are built on the steep granite cliff, supported by large painted pillars. The Main Hall, which was rebuilt in the 1980s, sits atop three huge red wooden stilt houses, and protects Maaeyeoraeipsang (여래입상), a standing Buddha carved into the rock.

Photo Credit: @sky240mi

Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

Photo Credit: @traveler_jung

Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

Photo Credit: @traveler_jung

Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

Photo Credit: @traveler_jung

Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

Photo Credit: @traveler_jung

Saseongam Four Sages Hermitage

Photo Credit: @traveler_jung

Woljeonggyo Bridge

In the drama The King Eternal monarch (2020) a scene is set in the atmospheric and spectacular Woljeonggyo Bridge which is located near gyochon village.

Photo Credit: Still from The King Eternal Monarch (2020)

Woljeonggyo Bridge

This bridge was built in the 19th century under the reign of King Gyeongdeok, but following the war, it had to be rebuilt.

Photo Credit: Still from The King Eternal Monarch (2020)

Woljeonggyo Bridge

Legend has it that the bridge's form follows that of the mituri shoe (hemp shoes) that were fashioned by a wife whose longing for her dead husband compelled her to weave the shoes from her own hair. The bridge was designed in the style of mituri shoes to commemorate this loving act.

Photo Credit: @gipsy_caju

Woljeonggyo Bridge

Photo Credit: @travel_unclepregnant

Woljeonggyo Bridge

Photo Credit: @travel_unclepregnant