Star-studded shortlist revealed for 拢13.5bn masterplan in South Korean capital

Foster + Partners, Daniel Libeskind and Skidmore Owings and Merrill are among the superstar architects competing to design a 拢13.5bn masterplan covering 57ha in the centre of Seoul, South Korea.

The three, together with Asymptote Architects and the Jerde Partnership, are being given $1m each to work up designs for the Yongsan business district.

But a notable absentee on the list is Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, which is designing an 拢853m mixed-use development at Yeouido Island in the same city.

Construction on the 57ha Yongsan site, currently a trainyard, is scheduled to start in 2011, with completion due in 2016. The project is expected to cost 28 trillion South Korean won, or roughly 拢13.5bn.

The five shortlisted architects have reportedly been given 鈥渨ide reign鈥� for their proposals, which must include a landmark tower with no height limit, office space, hotels, apartments and entertainment facilities. Detailed designs are due in October.

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