The Cheonggyecheon redevelopment project was created to improve the functionality of the built environment. By removing the elevated highway and introducing greenery and water into the very heart of the Korean capital, Lee M.B., pursuing a distinct urban approach, set an example for future regeneration projects and incentives.
The project processes new urbanism ideas as a new guideline for city regeneration. Through the removal of the elevated highway and the development of the three zones, the CRP is arguably modeled on the principles of new urbanism. The project has been developed in such a way that inhabitants can live, work and play without unnecessary travel, reducing carbon emissions and providing a greater sense of community.
The Neo-traditional ideas of the scheme create an interesting experiment on a relatively small scale. The CRP demonstrates that through the alteration of a cities vital arteries, redesigning them in such a way that they become more human friendly, and through the removal of the deliberate zoning of the cities, connecting the different neighborhoods with an attractive walkway, it is possible to significantly decrease vehicular usage and increase pedestrian traffic.
The CRP originated from the desire to improve the downtown area in Seoul by making it more ecological, sustainable and human friendly. Following the removal of the elevated highway, the development project allowed an increased intensification of the land use, improved mobility of pedestrians and made the choice of walking more desirable.
Assessing the project according to the eco-aesthetic principle, the Cheonggyecheon has become a new concept discourse for the city, influencing both socially and spiritually the environmental relations between nature and urbanism. In this instance it is more the lack of architecture, the removal of the built environment that acts as a social magnet. The aesthetics of the place is bound together by the belief that the city is undergoing a transformation, a shift of consciousness which will usher in a new mode of being (Guy 2001).
The redevelopment created a natural and tactile environment which can ensure the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals. This supported the conclusion that it wasn't just the ecological and historical aspects that were taken into consideration but also the human health and safety, making the project a good example for an eco-medical development.
Removing the concrete from the highway presents energy efficiency on an urban scale in a whole new light. The green spaces have, in general, the ability to bring positive outcomes for both urban areas and individuals, creating a greater sense of place.
After the hazardous pollution from the high traffic density was replaced by green spaces and new flowing water source (which reduced the amount of dust spread in the environment), the restoration of the river played an important role in the control of the local summer temperatures which increased from 3º to 5º C. Furthermore, the stream is slow and shallow making it safe for visitors and allowing them to touch it and refresh themselves during the hot summer days, making it a pleasant escape from the surrounding heat.
