BAEK HYUNBO Korean Traditional Architecture Program, Class of 2025, Instructor : Han, Jiman

Onsu Industrial Complex, designated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 1970 at the request of a private cooperative, was the first general industrial complex in Seoul. It was formed by small enterprises collectively gathered to supply basic materials to large factories located along the Guro Industrial Complex and Gyeongin Road. However, due to changes in the industrial conditions of Seoul, large factories in the city center relocated overseas and to the provinces. As a result, the resident companies of Onsu Industrial Complex also continuously moved to the provinces where it was easier to purchase raw materials and deliver products, leading to a significant decline in the productivity and industrial competitiveness of the Onsu Industrial Complex.

As of 2012, more than 40 years since the formation of the Onsu Industrial Complex, the industrial environment and infrastructure have significantly aged, raising concerns about various disasters. Particularly, the presence of inappropriate facilities in the city center has caused issues such as noise, dust, and wastewater, leading to continuous complaints from nearby residential areas.

Furthermore, workers in the past lived only in environments meant for work, without proper conditions or spaces for rest. Likewise, Onsu residents lived in an environment where unsightly factories were visible as soon as they stepped out of their residential areas, rather than having the typical environment expected of residential complexes.

Considering the redevelopment of the aging industrial complex while maintaining the character of the Onsu Industrial Complex, what kind of working environment should future industrial complexes have? Currently, there is no consideration for workers as in the past, nor are there solutions for the upcoming Fourth Industrial Revolution. However, in a creative economy with the diverse changes brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it will be possible to create various spaces for workers and surrounding residents. What if we create an industrial complex by forming a variety of spaces and programs? This is worth considering.