What to do at DDP
Dongdaemun Design Plaza, or DDP is one of my favorite places to hang out in Seoul. I like coming here because it’s a wide open space where my kids can run around quite safely. Also my family loves to eat at Shake Shack in the Doota Shopping mall across the street. Overall it’s pretty kid friendly, and I”m a sucker for modern design so I just really like this structure. There’s always something new here, whether its a street food fair at night or small craft vendors in the Design mall during the day. Watch the video for a tour inside the building and info on current exhibition.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza, which first opened in 2014, is a ultra modern urban development in the middle of Seoul’s fashion district that was designed by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, one of the great female architects of our time.
It’s a gorgeous space that was designed to be a cultural hub and the center of Seoul’s fashion district.
It really put Seoul on the map as a Design City.
The former mayor of Seoul who preferred landmark construction projects over social welfare programs, spent 450 million dollars on this civic space.
During demolition and construction of the DDP, historic ruins were discovered from the Joseon Dynasty. The ruins were to be removed and have now been integrated into the surrounding park landscape.
DDP is equipped with an eco-friendly and energy efficient geothermal system, including solar panels and water recycling systems.
At night the space is illuminated with over 25,000 LED flowers – essentially an LED Rose garden which is definitely something worth seeing.
This structure really stands in contrast to the surrounding neighborhood which is has a very traditional market feel in certain spots, and transports you back in time.
The multipurpose cultural complex features five different facilities, which include the
-Art Hall
-the Learning Centre
-the Design Lab
-the Design Market, and
-the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park.
The Art Hall is a conference area.
The Learning Centre features spaces including the Design Museum, Design Exhibition Hall, Design Pathway, and Museum Cafe.
The Design Lab, covers 2 floors and integrates the Design Lab 1 and 2, the Designer’s Lounge, and the Academy Hall.
The Dongdaemun History and Culture Park, which covers an area of 4,110m2, has an eco-friendly design featuring the Design Gallery, Stadium Memorial Hall, the Dongdaemun History Hall, and other spaces.
The design market is sort of an indoor shopping mall with of course Korean cosmetics shops, restaurants, and other small boutiques.
The design lab takes up 2 floors and here you can find Seoul’s biggest art and design shop. It’s actually a open space with a ton of different mini shops. This shopping experience reminds me a lot of the MOMA store in New York.
The design market is a multipurpose space for cultural event and shopping, and it opens 24 hours a day to provide a public space for visitors and residents of Dongdaemun Market, the town that never sleeps.
In addition, the DDP has parking areas, dispensaries, a feeding room, a coatroom, a cafe, and other facilities and they are operated and managed by the Seoul Design Foundation of the city of Seoul.
DDP hosts Hera Seoul Fashion week twice a year, and if you come during the time, you can see all the bloggers and fashionistas posing for the gram. The latest stars on the fashion scene are kids. I don’t think my kids would enjoy this personally but I think some of these kids are aspiring k pop stars.
Subway: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, Exit 1