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Korean apartments remind me of "the projects"
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legalquestions



Joined: 25 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:26 am    Post subject: Korean apartments remind me of "the projects" Reply with quote

Even the newer apartments here look like "the housing projects" in the larger cities back in the USA. Know what I'm talking about? It is so depressing seeing row after row of cookie cutter boring apartment "houses" everywhere you look.

I can understand why the federal government back home built them this way (cost considerations, space considerations, poverty of the tenants, etc). But the Korean people are paying huge amounts of money for these things here. Why do they do this? Why isn't there more variation in styles? Why don't they demand more options?
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definitely maybe



Joined: 16 Feb 2008

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i agree. the first thing my stepfather said about seoul when he visited was, "the entire city looks like co-op city on the way to nyc!" he was pretty amused when i explained that koreans often view these kinds of apartments as the most desirable.
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definitely maybe



Joined: 16 Feb 2008

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wrong thread. sorry

Last edited by definitely maybe on Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:47 am; edited 1 time in total
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milspecs



Joined: 19 Jun 2008

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

the older apts look like the projects.

but some of the hyperion buildings ive been look pretty damn nice. not painted that off white color most of the older apts seem to be. they also have helipads on the roof for some reason Laughing
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victorology



Joined: 10 Sep 2007

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

milspecs wrote:
the older apts look like the projects.

but some of the hyperion buildings ive been look pretty damn nice. not painted that off white color most of the older apts seem to be. they also have helipads on the roof for some reason Laughing


The officetel I live in has a helipad on the rooftop. I've never seen it used and can't really imagine anyone using it but... it makes for a nice place to have a drink. Very Happy
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Smee



Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A lot safer, though.

Building up not out is something folks in the US need to pick up on. Urban sprawl is a terrible waste.
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Mint



Joined: 08 May 2008

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, all waeguks need to realize that, didn't you know the Korean BMI says you is teh fat?
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Jandar



Joined: 11 Jun 2008

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I imagine the Helipads are for medivac.

Maybe not used that way but surely a good intention.

Or maybe as a feel good fire escape gesture.
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IncognitoHFX



Joined: 06 May 2007
Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Smee wrote:
A lot safer, though.

Building up not out is something folks in the US need to pick up on. Urban sprawl is a terrible waste.


Yeah, they're ugly but they're sure as hell better than gratuitous Western style suburbs. It's all very economical.

Some of the new towers look pretty nice, too. The old "cookie-cutter" style prefabs don't seem to be being built anymore, they seem left over from about a decade ago. When you see new areas/blocks being built, they are always using a design that looks a lot better than the old one.

Everyone should go check out Dongtan if you want to see a "new city". I've walked there a few times. There is a Western-style villa subdivision, a law prohibiting the use of neon signs and rubber sidewalks (made from recycled tires) to put your feet at ease.

I also saw a lot of solar powered equipment in that area, like bus stop displays and streetlights.

According to this wiki, Dongtan is one of the first "ubiquitous cities" of which Korea will build 15 (check out "Songdo"). This is Korea transforming it's prefab arhitecture from economical and plain to efficient and forward thinking. I went to visit my old hagwon boss in Dongtan a few weeks ago and he had the ingenius idea of being the first person to open an English hagwon in the new residential area where no one yet lives. If he plays his cards right, he'll be a rich m-fer.
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Crockpot2001



Joined: 01 Jul 2007

PostPosted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

IncognitoHFX wrote:
Smee wrote:
A lot safer, though.

Building up not out is something folks in the US need to pick up on. Urban sprawl is a terrible waste.


Yeah, they're ugly but they're sure as hell better than gratuitous Western style suburbs. It's all very economical.

Some of the new towers look pretty nice, too. The old "cookie-cutter" style prefabs don't seem to be being built anymore, they seem left over from about a decade ago. When you see new areas/blocks being built, they are always using a design that looks a lot better than the old one.

Everyone should go check out Dongtan if you want to see a "new city". I've walked there a few times. There is a Western-style villa subdivision, a law prohibiting the use of neon signs and rubber sidewalks (made from recycled tires) to put your feet at ease.

I also saw a lot of solar powered equipment in that area, like bus stop displays and streetlights.

According to this wiki, Dongtan is one of the first "ubiquitous cities" of which Korea will build 15 (c