Increasing generational hostility and class segregation within Korean society has led to the marginalisation of a growing demographic of low-income seniors. Unwelcome elsewhere, seniors have formed their own informal community around Seoul’s oldest urban park in the affordable Nakwon neighbourhood.

For low-income seniors, Nakwon is the last bastion to resist the gentrification creep, protected only by the adjacent Nakwon Sangga, a derelict megastructure from a by-gone era. However, recent city beautification and tourism efforts have led to the ousting of seniors from Nakwon. This thesis looks to reclaim the neighbourhood for the displaced seniors using Nakwon Sangga to transition the lost gathering space from the park to the building.

Program: Master of Architecture

Thesis Advisor: Shane Williamson