The Uniqueness of Jongno Tower | Seoul, South Korea

This 33-story office is located near the Jonggak Metro Station and famous ancient Bosin-gak bell at Jongno, Seoul. Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, this building was built in 1999 with the height of 132m. The uniqueness of Jongno Tower is its floating oval area above seven stories of empty spaces with an impressive city views restaurants on the top floor. How the New York based firm Rafael Viñoly Architects got the project by winning a contest held in 1994 to redesign and finish pre-existing 17 stories of steel frame and concrete floor slabs. Jongro Tower received a gold award for Architectural design by the Seoul metropolitan city back in 2000. 

The idea that Rafael Viñoly Architects has was to design a mixed-use facility which includes offices, entertainment, and F&B the top, making it a city landmark. If you noticed there’s a duplex kinda restaurant that looks as if it floats above the city giving it 360-degree views of Seoul. Top Cloud is the restaurant located on the 33rd floor of the Jongno Tower. It also offers buffet package that serves European/Korean mix dishes, with  live jazz band in the evening. I must say, they succeeded in making Jongno Tower a landmark.

Jongno Tower is owned by Samsung Securities and the shopping area in the basement is called Millennium Plaza hence it is also know as Samsung-Jongro Building. Beneath the Jongno Tower (the basement) connects to Seoul's largest bookstores "Bandi and Luni's", books available in Korea and English.

What makes the building more unique it has the largest Starbucks store sits between two of the Tower’s floors covering over 1,000 square meters (11,000 square feet). This is the place where all walks of life regardless of generation and interest gather to dine, shop, work and chill. The Starbucks Jongno Tower outlet features a ‘Grand Bar’ bar on the second floor thus making it the largest stand-alone bar in South Korea.

You can get to Jongno Tower by subway train, just take the Line 1 and exit Jonggak Station. What are you waiting for, hop on the train and let’s head to Jongno Tower.

Top Cloud Restaurant
1-1 Jongno2-ga
110-789, Seoul
South Korea
Phone : 02-2230–3000
Website : www.topcloud.co.kr

Opening Hours
Mon – Sun : 12.00pm – 2.30pm, 6.00pm – 10.00pm
Buffet
12.00pm – 2.00pm, 6.00pm – 8.30pm
Live Jazz
Sun – Fri : 7.00pm –  11.00pm
Sat : 6.00pm – 10.00pm

Buffet (10% VAT excluded)
Lunch : Adult ₩35,000, Child ₩24,000


#ImagineYourKorea #KTOSuperstarFriends

Dongdaemun Design Plaza : Where East Meets West

Those that are familiar with my travel style, would know my passion well by know. Evolving always around culture, heritage, history and architecture. I feel that this 4 items intertwined with each more that often and almost none standalone. And when it comes to South Korea, the architecture scene is amazing, the South Korean somehow able to embrace modernity of science and technology while holding on strongly to their roots; culture and heritage. Embracing both, eloquently. With grace.

I would like to take you guys in a series of South Korean’s architecture, culture, heritage, food (well it kinda relates to one another, right) and perhaps theme parks and Kpop (that hit the world by storm). So, just sit back and relax.

PS : If you plan to visit South Korea soon (after the pandemic that is), here’s the space that you should watch out for and bookmark the link. Cause I will be sharing tonnes of #SouthKoreaTravelTips that you wouldn’t want to miss. Gonna take you on an architectural ride.

If you know Zaha Hadid then you will be in awe when visiting Dongdaemun in Seoul, South Korea.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza aka DDP is designed by this renowned architecture of all time Zaha Hadid. I must say, this is a must visit place when in Seoul (the fact is it becoming an Instagrammable spot should be a good enough excuse for you to include it in the itinerary). Built in 2007 and completed in 2014, DDP is slated to be the culture hub of South Korea of this century. Located in the historic district of Dongdaemun, popular for its 24hours shopping and boutique cafes that are mushrooming all over South Korea stamped that this is the place to be seen regardless of age group.
 
The aim is to make this DDP a place for exchange of ideas, where culture, art, technology and media meet. Basically, Dongdaemun Design Plaza is the catalyst of change. And for those that love architure, this would be on of their sweet spot. East meets West is best describe here.

This historic district is home to the Cheonggyecheon Stream, another architectural and engineering wonder. Having won the Honor Award under the General Design Category by the ASLA Professional Awards, it is an achievement milestone for South Korea. This revitalization project not only improve the air pollution index and the quality of live resulting to a better transportation system. It comes as no surprise that Seoul won the World Technology Award for this mega restoration project from the World Technology Network in San Francisco back in 2005.
 
This two magnificent engineering and architecture fit resides in the historical town of Dongdaemun, enveloped by Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, where their colourful heritage stood still - Seoul Fortress, Yigansumun Water Gate, Dongdaemun History Museum 1398, Dongdaemun Excavation Site Exhibition Hall, Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial within one complex.

Check out their website http://www.ddp.or.kr/main if you want to know more about Dongdaemun. You will not regret. #ImagineYourKorea #KTOSuperstarFriends