A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture (6): Garosu-gil

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A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture (6): Garosu-gil

Published Date : Dec 22, 2021 / Edited Date : Jun 09, 2023

Seasonal Changes and Fashion Trends

On the roadside, there are street trees that let us feel the changes of the seasons. They change each season as if changing clothes to have us feel the flow of time walking down the road. There is a famous street with roadside trees in Sinsa-dong, Seoul. It is Garosu-gil (“garosu” means “street trees” while “gil” means “street” in Korean), the epicenter of the latest fashion trends.

Garosu-gil is a hot spot in Seoul where you can get a taste of fashion and cultural trends. Let’s take a walk along Garosu-gil, which is frequented not only by Korean youths but international tourists as well.

Ginkgo Tree-Lined Street

#The_Birth_of_Garosu-gil

Garosu-gil is about a 650-meter section from Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) Sinsa-dong Branch at Exit 8 of Sinsa Station to Hyundai High School. “Garosu-gil” was originally a nickname as the street was lined with street trees, but as it gained popularity, the address was designated as “Garosu-gil” in June 2020.

Now that its etymology is clear, let’s find out how it took on its contemporary image as a “street of cultural trends.” Starting in the end of the 1960s, the urban landscape of Seoul changed a lot and Gangnam was no exception as it underwent urban development. As urban development came to a finish in the 1980s, elite galleries that collected and enjoyed artworks relocated from Insa-dong to Gangnam. Artists started to open their studio on Garosu-gil, which showed a calmer atmosphere and lower rent than in Cheongdam. As galleries and studios gathered, the street became a “street of the arts and culture,” and in the 1990s, fashion-related shops began to pop up to what we know the street to be now.

On Garosu-gil, there are more than 160 ginkgo trees lined up down the two-lane street. As the street is not too long, most buildings have a narrow entrance and long interior space. Since the 2010s, the influence of gentrification* made the existing shops to relocate to the backstreets. This phenomenon leads to the emergence of “Serosu-gil” (“sero” means “length” while “garo” means “width” in Korean). Garosu-gil and Serosu-gil together are completing the sophisticated atmosphere of streets with cafes, restaurants, and boutiques.

* Gentrification: A social phenomenon where existing stores move to the outskirts as they can’t afford increased rent due to the popularity of an area and its augmented floating population.

Garosu-gil
Dosan-daero 13-gil, Apgujeong-ro 12-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Garosu-gil)
#Sinsa-dong #Garosu-gil #Serosu-gil

Slow Walk to the Rooftop

#Garo_Golmok_Project

Garosu-gil is a great place to encounter artistic and cultural trends, and there is just the right place to find them all at once. It is “Garo Golmok,” a cultural complex that connects Garosu-gil and Serosu-gil. Garo Golmok was established based on the operational know-how of Ssamzigil and comprises six floors including the rooftop. The building was designed by architect Kim Chan-joong.

What differentiates Garo Golmok from other buildings is that it has an open first floor despite it being prime real estate to rake in rent. In crowded areas like Garosu-gil, it is difficult to create large public open space.* However, Garo Golmok opened its first floor with a piloti to let visitors freely come and go through the rest zone, flee markets, and cafes. The open space on the first floor encourages people to visit the shops on the second floor.

* Public open space: A building of a certain scale and usage should have public open space, such as a small rest area, open to the public for urban recreation and enjoyment.

The building has a unique structure with slopes that are connected from the first to the top floor. Following the gentle spiral slopes, visitors can look around the shops as they slowly walk around. More than a hundred small shops with an average of 16 square meter area grab people’s attention with their individuality.

The rest zone of Garo Golmok is not only on the first floor. When you continue going up while looking around the shops, you will reach the rooftop garden which has a panoramic view of Garosu-gil and Serosu-gil. As such, public open space around the building enhances the accessibility and usability by people. This way, Garo Golmok satisfies the rapidly changing tastes of consumers with various shops and provides rest zones where visitors can spend time for relaxation.

Garo Golmok
36 Dosan-daero 13-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
##Garo_Golmok #Cultural_Complex #Rest_Area #Rooftop_Garden

Brightness and Darkness – The Coexistence of Polar Opposite Merits

#Hot_Place_in_Garosu-gil: Lilt [Closed]

If you visit Garosu-gil, it would be a good idea to be lost in one of the alleys from the main street. You will enjoy looking around the charming shops boasting unique individuality. This place is called Lilt, a dessert cafe located in an alley embraced by various plants.

“Lilt” in English means “a pleasant, gently swinging rhythm in a song or tune,” and the designer wanted to create a place where people can relax listening to music. The terrace under the piloti* at the entrance has a pattern design of flowers on the ceiling, grabbing the attention of any visitor. Also, a variety of plants and white tables and chairs are arranged to make the entrance brighter.

* Piloti: An open space that separates a building from the first floor made by leaving only columns and bare walls.

When you pass through the bright terrace at the entrance and walk into Lilt, you will encounter a space with a twist. The inside of the cafe has a calm and dim atmosphere softly lit by pendant lamps.

The most remarkable in the space would be stone tables in which plants are planted. The atypical-shaped tables are placed on stones of other textures. A light green marble bar is harmonious with the background with the long window. The colors and textures of stones create the unique identity of Lilt.

The warm sunshine throughout the seasons that comes into the folding door by the entrance stands out in the dark space. When it is sunny, the folding door is open to extend the indoor space, linked to the outdoor terrace.

Pets are allowed, and a gallery is soon to open on the basement so let’s wait and see!

How about enjoying some relaxing time while drinking Lilt’s signature coffee at a cafe unique to Garosu-gil?

Lilt
27, Gangnam-daero 156-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (1F)
Instagram @cafe_lilt
#Lilt #Garosu-gil_Lilt #Pet_Friendly

Our architectural walking course is here!

An illustrated map of the 6th episode of A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture. Exit 8 of Sinsa Station is marked at the bottom right of the map, and the road where Line 3 passes in a straight line from top to bottom is marked. Garosu-gil starts a block away from Sinsa Station, and is marked diagonally from the bottom right to the top left. Garo Golmok which was introduced in the article is located in the middle of Garosu-gil, and Cafe Lilt is located three blocks away from Exit 8 of Sinsa Station.

Visit Seoul × ArchiBear

Buildings and architecture form a city, and cities come together to form a country. And that’s why architecture reflects the history and culture of a city as a component of the city. Seoul X Archibear’s A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture was designed to provide a fresh perspective on the city by sharing the anecdotes of architectural culture while traveling around South Korea’s capital.

Well-built and distinctive architecture can serve as a piece of art carved in our city. And in Seoul, which is rich with diverse history and characteristics, there are beautiful buildings that are worth paying a visit. We hope that this special series helps promote Seoul as an ideal travel destination and invite everyone to experience the hidden architectural beauty in Seoul’s everyday life.

A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture series was produced by Visit Seoul in collaboration with ArchiBear, a brand created by the architectural culture and travel content company, Haas Studio.

Curious to get more information on architectural tourism in Seoul?

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