21st Century (2000–present)

Busan North Port Redevelopment

2010s– · South Korea · East Asia – Korea · Post-industrial regeneration and waterfront urbanism · Planned by Busan Port Authority; City of Busan
Busan North Port Redevelopment layout plan: the official district plan for converting the relocated port lands into an urban waterfront
Busan North Port Redevelopment layout plan: the official district plan for converting the relocated port lands into an urban waterfront · © Busan Metropolitan City — used with credit · Busan Metropolitan City / Busan Port Authority — North Port Redevelopment Project layout plan

Core idea

Relocated port lands to urban waterfront

Why it matters

Large harborfront city-making in Korea

Description

A large-scale redevelopment of Busan's historic North Port, led by the Busan Port Authority with the City of Busan, made possible by the relocation of container operations to the new port west of the city. The plan converts obsolete piers and cargo-handling land adjacent to Busan Station into a mixed-use waterfront district of public open space, cultural facilities, offices and residential development, reconnecting the city centre with the harbour it had long been cut off from.

Significance

The North Port project is South Korea's most prominent essay in harbourfront city-making, translating the international waterfront regeneration model to a major East Asian port city. It reflects the structural shift of port functions out of central Busan and has figured in national ambitions for the city, including expo bids, while raising familiar questions about the balance between public realm, cultural ambition and property-led development on reclaimed port land.

What shaped it

Sources

Open it on the interactive timeline →
hub.toekom.st — History of Urbanism · an interactive timeline of 850 planned cities across 6,000 years.