International architecture firm OMA has unveiled an ambitious masterplan that transforms hillside neighborhoods in Busan, South Korea, through a sophisticated patchwork of terraces and towers. Working in collaboration with the Busan Architecture Festival and the Department of Housing and Architecture, the firm has developed a contemporary framework that preserves the vibrant street life and creates coherent skylines while addressing modern urban needs.
The comprehensive Busan Slope Housing study identified four distinct residential categories: terrace houses, urban villas, row units, and towers. Each housing type underwent rigorous testing for optimal slope positioning, solar access, orientation, and area requirements. Additional qualitative factors including proximity to public spaces, scenic views, and visual diversity played crucial roles in determining their strategic placement throughout the hillside terrain.
The masterplan strategically positions different housing types based on topographical advantages. Towers are situated at high elevation points to maximize views and landmark presence, while urban villas anchor central areas to create community focal points. Row houses follow natural ridgelines to work with the landscape's contours, and terraced units nestle into steep pockets where conventional development would be challenging.
During the Korean War, Busan became a sanctuary city as refugees claimed its hillsides, constructing improvised homes from salvaged materials. Over several decades, these informal settlements evolved into dense, vibrant neighborhoods uniquely adapted to the challenging steep terrain. Today, while these same hillsides occupy valuable real estate, the aging structures and narrow access lanes no longer meet contemporary living standards and safety requirements.
The conventional development response of building tower estates promises efficiency and modern comfort but completely erases the dynamic urban life that historically animated these slopes. OMA's approach seeks to bridge this gap by preserving community character while introducing necessary modern amenities and infrastructure.
The study focuses on two contrasting sites that represent different urban conditions: Yeongju, which is integrated into central Busan's urban fabric, and Anchang, which sits isolated between forested ridges. These contrasting locations allow the design team to test a flexible development approach that mediates between the existing micro-scale urban fabric and modern macro-scale estate planning.
Led by partner Chris van Duijn, the OMA team prioritized creating a comprehensive circulation network that supports everyday community life. The design links major public nodes through carefully planned pedestrian corridors connecting bus stops and monorail stations to essential community facilities including schools, parks, and markets. This creates an integrated network that supports daily life activities across the challenging slope terrain.
This circulation-focused approach reveals natural pocket neighborhoods shaped by factors including gradient variations, adjacency relationships, access points, and view corridors. Within each identified pocket area, the design team carefully considered trade-offs between slope retention requirements, vehicle access needs, daylight optimization, and communal landing spaces to inform both the placement and type of housing most appropriate for each location.
The resulting masterplan creates a composition of interlocking zones structured around stairs, landings, terraces, and small squares rather than conventional fences and parking structures. This approach transforms circulation into social interaction opportunities, makes outdoor spaces communal rather than private, and ensures the hillside once again accommodates visible, everyday community life that celebrates the area's unique character and history.
