Pimagoal in Jongno, the center of Seoul, is the traditional alley with history of over 600 years, and has been functioning as a commercial street with conserving urban fabric relatively well. However, the appearance of the conservation and development...
Pimagoal in Jongno, the center of Seoul, is the traditional alley with history of over 600 years, and has been functioning as a commercial street with conserving urban fabric relatively well. However, the appearance of the conservation and development seems to be different since different redevelopment types has been assigned and relative redevelopment projects are carried out over time. This paper distinguishes Pimagoal (from Jongno 1Ga to 3Ga) in terms of three redevelopment types: A) clearance renewal, B) clearance renewal pending, C) voluntary change. Based upon these types, the study analyzes the change and physical status of Pimagoal and evaluates the features of the place.
There are two analytical dimensions for identifying the place character in Pimagoal, One is how well the traditional value (the authentic nature of Pimagoal) is maintained, and the other is how much the present value (the commercial vitality) is maintained. Drawing upon the prior study with regards to Pimagoal and the commercial street, 11 analytical elements have been employed - the original form of street, the traditional use, individuality of buildings and shops, the continuity of street, the surrounding of street, the degree of front of shops, the connectivity with Jongno, the optimality of the width of sidewalk, the variety of use, the variety of facade, the openness of buildings. The study also attempted to analyze the change comparing the past and the present as much as the materials supported. However, it analyzed only the present status about the physical condition in case of the absence of materials.
In the type A, as there has been an entire removal through parcel-assembly clearance redevelopment the individuality of lots, buildings and shops has been disappeared and the surrounding of streets has varied and the original identity of Pimagoal has been damaged. In the type B, since the redevelopment projects have not been carried out under the designation of a redevelopment area the original alignment of Pimagoal has been best conserved. However, the degree of front and openness is in quite bad condition, because most of the shops in the south are interfacing with the back side of Pimagoal. It has not been functioning well as the commercial streets since the view of streets and the walking environment are not good. In the type C, the individuality has been conserved relatively well since the scale of lots or buildings has not been changed largely except that a few buildings has expanded. In addition, as double facade type of shops has been appeared in the jewelry shop areas the facade, openness, and the connectivity with Jongno has been improved. The dark appearance of side streets has been also improved, while various streets-friendly shops has been making harmony with each other.
The study shows that there would be positive change if the city allows the potentials of self-growth administers properly the current redevelopment schemes. The other meaningful result through the type analysis is that there are corelation between the analytical elements and place character. The individuality of lots and buildings affect the original form and connectivity of streets. The degree of front is the most important features and has to be preceded in order to secure the connectivity with Jongno, the variety of facade and the openness of buildings. Therefore the individuality has to be prereserved by setting the proper size of development and it has to be suggested as the essential prerequisite that the front side is arranged in the interface with Pimagil.