Seoul approves major Gangnam redevelopment projects for Galleria, former Prima Hotel site

Seoul approved two major redevelopment projects in the city’s affluent Gangnam District on Wednesday, finalizing plans to transform the Galleria Department Store in Apgujeong-dong into a glass-clad complex designed by renowned British architect Thomas Heatherwick and to redevelop the former Prima Hotel site in Cheongdam-dong into a 38-story tower featuring a luxury hotel.

“We approved three agenda items during the seventh architectural committee meeting held on Tuesday, including the reconstruction project for Galleria Department Store’s East and West buildings and the Dosandae-ro area station district A revitalization project,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government said. 

Demolition work on the Galleria Department Store in Apgujeong-dong is reportedly expected to begin as early as 2027, with reconstruction projected to continue for about six years through 2033.

Located in front of Apgujeong Rodeo Station on the Suin-Bundang Line, the Galleria Department Store is currently divided into east and west wings. 

Both buildings will be redesigned in an hourglass-inspired form and include an integrated underground plaza, indoor open spaces, mid-level gardens and rooftop gardens, all of which will be accessible to the public.

“The project will introduce an open architectural model differentiated from conventional closed commercial facilities,” a Seoul city official said.

The underground plaza will serve as a space for culture, relaxation and events, while the indoor and outdoor areas will be interconnected to support a range of public activities.

The buildings will incorporate renewable energy sources, including solar power, hydrothermal energy and fuel cells, along with a double-skin facade system, to achieve the environmentally friendly performance of a so-called zero-energy building.

Zero-energy buildings are designed to minimize energy consumption and rely on renewable and new energy sources so that annual energy demand approaches nearly zero.

In Cheongdam-dong , a mixed-use redevelopment project combining tourism, residential and commercial functions will be carried out at the former Prima Hotel site in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. The project's revised proposal was approved by the Seoul architectural committee. 

The revised proposal includes measures to strengthen tourism infrastructure and improve operational efficiency.

Under the revised plan, the eight-story underground and 38-story aboveground complex will include a 75-room hotel, 29 apartment units and 20 officetel units. An officetel is a building unit that combines commercial and residential functions.

The project will create an urban mixed-use space integrating tourism, commercial and cultural functions by reorganizing hotel facilities and improving pedestrian flow for greater convenience and efficiency, according to Seoul city.

“This project in the Apgujeong-dong and Cheongdam-dong areas represents a leading example of urban transformation that combines design innovation with tourism and cultural functions,” a Seoul city official said. “We will continue strengthening Seoul’s global competitiveness through an urban environment that harmonizes creative architecture with public value.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY MOON HEE-CHUL [[email protected]]