Eungbong Terrace by YZA: Transforming Underpass Neglect into a Community Landmark in Seoul

Reimagining Neglected Urban Voids

Situated beneath the Eungbong Bridge in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Eungbong Terrace by YZA transforms a previously forgotten and underutilized space into a dynamic public cultural hub. What was once a dark, steep, and dead-end space disconnected by a one-lane road and avoided by residents is now a vibrant urban intervention — one that redefines the identity of Eungbong-dong.

Bordered by dense residential blocks and adjacent to the Jungnangcheon Stream, the site had the potential to become a connective urban tissue. However, until recently, the site remained isolated due to its challenging topography and lack of accessibility or visual appeal. Even though a sports facility had been added earlier, the space remained unused and uninviting.

Architectural Vision: Turning Void into a Visual Icon

YZA approached the project not just as a renovation, but as a civic activation. The studio asked a crucial question: Can we transform an anonymous underpass into a symbolic destination — one that inspires people to stop, gather, and interact?

Drawing from global examples like Las Vegas emerging in the desert or Jeongseon’s transformation from a mining town into a casino destination, YZA envisioned a striking urban gesture. The goal was to replace the area's darkness and neglect with light, form, and social vitality.

A Terrace of Light and Community

Eungbong Terrace acts as a beacon for the neighborhood — a landmark of light, both metaphorically and physically. By carving the expansive underpass into a series of smaller, human-scale “pocket spaces,” the design breaks the monolithic void into intimate, usable public zones.

This approach resonates particularly in the post-COVID era, where small-group interaction in open-air settings has become crucial. The project reflects a thoughtful understanding of contemporary social behavior, prioritizing micro-interactions while maintaining spatial openness.

Design Elements: Sculptural Roof and Reflective Light

At the heart of Eungbong Terrace is a roof sculpture that not only shelters but connects the entire site. During the day, the roof’s reflective surface captures and diffuses daylight with wave-like patterns, echoing the movement of the nearby stream. At night, indirect lighting transforms the space into an ambient corridor, linking all units with a fluid, glowing continuity.

This dual experience — reflective and radiant — elevates the once-inaccessible space into a multi-functional urban plaza that welcomes people to walk, linger, and participate in shared civic life.

Human-Centric Urbanism

The lower overpass has now been reimagined not just as leftover infrastructure, but as a human-scaled terrace plaza — a visual and social focal point for the community. The design invites residents to pass through, pause, or gather, creating a soft boundary between movement and stillness, transit and leisure.

Eungbong Terrace is a brilliant case study in adaptive reuse, placemaking, and community-centered architecture, showing how even the most challenging urban sites can be reprogrammed into culturally rich and socially inclusive environments.

All Photographs are works of Kyungsub Shin