Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) at Seoul, South Korea

Dongdaemun Design Plaza, or more known as DDP (동대문 디자인플라자) at Seoul, South Korea is one of our most anticipated destinations when travelling to Seoul this October. Opening in the March of 2014, Dongdaemun Design Plaza has becoming the new iconic landmark in the center of Dongdaemun area, bringing new milestone to the modern architecture in the country that proudly combines art, technology, economy and cultural.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza DDP can be reached by taking Seoul subway, align at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station that connects Line 2, 4 and 5.  Follow Exit 1, be ready to get impressed with the huge, UFO spaceship like building and park that stretched out into 85,000 square feet of floor area.

We felt like we had been transported to the future standing below Dongdaemun Design Plaza, stunned with the genius-like design by Zaha Hadid, a famous Iraqi-born famous architect, who is also the first woman winner for Prizker Architecture Prize. The construction pulls together flowing of fluid as the main concept, pursuing meticulous process to complete.

What makes Dongdaemun Design Plaza noteworthy would be the cutting-edge technology, putting together 54122 pieces of aluminium panels in different sizes and patterns to form beautiful curves that stood sturdily during daytime, twinkle softly as night falls. We were speechless when we browsed through introduction of DDP Plaza, only to know that there is no straight lines or walls in the external building installation. WOW WOW WOW…and more WOW.

Due to the long hours of travelling since 5am on our first day of arrival in Seoul South Korea, we were exhausted so we didn’t venture deeply into the whole area. This is what we feel really regret till now. DDP comprises of many section including Design Museum, Design Exhibition Hall, Design Playground, Design Pathway, Pathway Cafe, Design Shop, Art Hall, Oullim Square: Cave Stairways, and more. Seminars, exhibitions, fashion week, galleries are held on specific time too.

Everywhere is a feast for eyes, even the staircases.

We forced ourself to walk to the park (yes, DDP is really big), just to get a glimpse of the most-talked about “roses that illuminate in the dark”. It was all worth when we looked at the field of roses, glowing subtly, calming the mind. Pedestrians friendly, a park ideal to stroll on during the evening, with friends, or your loved ones, accompanied by countless, lovely flowers.

DDP LED roses garden

Suggest to spend a day in Dongdaemun area, so that you can shop for fashions at Dongdaemun wholesale markets, the so-called 24hours, never sleep, shop-till-you-drop-streets; Dongdaemun Cultural & Historical Park and DDP Plaza in one go. You can also enjoy buying clothes in shopping complex such as Migliore, Doota! and Hello AM PM. All these tourists attractions are linked together.

In short, being the world’s largest three-dimensional armophous architectural structure and an attraction listed by New York Times’ as one of the “52 Places to Go in 2015”, there is no reason for not visiting this stunning Dongdaemun Design Plaza when you are in Korea.

Everyone is a photographer here. Walk, jump, squat, sit, run, turnaround but don’t fall down, you are free to capture the best curves of DDP, day, or night.

*Facts informations are obtained from DDP official website http://www.ddp.or.kr/

Photography: Summerkid
Write Up: Summergirl

How to reach Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) : Align at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, 4 ,5). After reaching Exit 1, and you will see the massive, sophisticated landscape in front of you.

Summary of Our 6D5N Trip