Sunday, July 3, 2011

Momente din Seul 25. Zona COEX / Seoul Moments 25. COEX Zone

COEX is the biggest underground mall in Asia but I entered there only to change some money at a bank and to eat at the  O'Kim's Brauhaus (I told about it here: http://travelinghawk.blogspot.com/2011/05/momente-din-seul-4-mancarea-seoul.html). In this post I intend to show you this very modern part of Seoul, where on November 2010 the G20 Summit was held. I mean that COEX, apart from being a mall and holding a huge aquarium, a multiplex cinema with 16 screen, and the Kimchi Museum, is also a Covention Center, where important events take place.

The subway station is at a crossing of two importand roads, one of which being the famous Teheranno Rd. Its name comes from the Mayor of Tehran, Iran, who visited Seoul on 1978. Two years before, it was established that the two cities will grant their name to a great boulevard.

This area has a lot of tall buildings, like WTC Seoul, Galss Tower, Park Hyatt Hotel, etc. Besides, a lot of greenery and street art work justify the title of World Capital of Design, awarded to Seoul in 2010.

Numele COEX se refera Convention Exhibition, numita anterior KOrea EXhibition. Este cel mai mare mall subteran din Asia dar nu despre el va voi povesti. De altfel, am intrat doar la parter, la banca, sa schimb niste bani si sa mananc la O'Kim's Brauhaus, despre care vi-am povestit deja aici http://travelinghawk.blogspot.com/2011/05/momente-din-seul-4-mancarea-seoul.html

In aceasta postare vreau, de fapt, sa vedeti cum arata aceasta parte foarte moderna din Seul, unde a avut loc si summit-ul G20, in noiembrie 2010. Templul Bongeunsa se afla aici, in apropiere (http://travelinghawk.blogspot.com/2011/05/momente-din-seul-12-templul-bongeunsa_28.html) si de aceea am luat metroul, Linia 2, statia Samseong, iesirile 5 si 6. Ne aflam in cartierul Gangnam, pe care nu l-am vizitat cat as fi vrut, dar despre care va voi mai povesti. La iesirea din metrou ajung in cu totul alta lume decat cea a palatelor si templelor vizitate pana acum.
 statia Samseong, iesirea 6
Pe langa faptul ca este un mare mall, ca adaposteste un acvariu urias, un multiplex cu 16 ecrane, precum si Muzeul Kimchi (acel preparat de varza tipic coreean), COEX este si centru de conventii, unde au loc numeroase intalniri importante. In imediata sa apropiere se afla si World Trade Center Seul. Aceasta cladire s-a ridicat in 1988 si are o inaltime de 228 m.
 WTC Seul
Turnul de Sticla si COEX, alaturi de Hotelul Park Hyat si alte cladiri moderne reprezinta partea de est a renumitului Bulevard Teheranno. Numele acestuia vine chiar de la Teheran, capitala Iranului. In 1976, cele doua capitale au hotarat sa-si dea reciproc numele unor mari bulevarde. In Seul, acest lucru s-a intamplat cu ocazia vizitei primarului din Teheran.
 COEX
 intrare secundara in mall
 interiorul mall-ului
 Hotel Park Hyatt
 Glass Tower
Statia de metrou este la intersectia a doua mari bulevarde, intens circulate. Totusi nu ai impresia de aglomeratie, zona are multe spatii verzi si este intesata cu opere de arta stradala.
Bulevardul Teheranno
Atat de multe lucrari de arta, intr-un spatiu relativ restrans, nu am mai vazut in nici un alt oras vizitat!
De aceea am si dorit sa va prezint zona intr-o postare separata. Nu degeaba s-a acordat Seulului, in anul 2010, titlul de Capitala Mondiala a Designului!

22 comments:

Randy said...

Very modern and I love all of the different sculptures.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks, Randy. Have a great Sunday!

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

Did you have people staring at you whilst you were taking all these pictures?

Duncan In Kuantan

Traveling Hawk said...

Nobody stared at me, at all, Duncan. It is a very civilized nation, very attentive not only toward tourists but between themselves too. They themselves are photographers and have a lot of products of the industry!

Liliana said...

Bilutele is foarte frumoase. Se reflecta superb zgarie norii :)

Traveling Hawk said...

Da, si mie mi-au placut, Liliana!

Doug Hickok said...

Oh my goodness, the modern architecture and public art work is very impressive! I especially like the reflecting ball fountain. Thank you for the tour. You have opening my eyes to the beauty of Seoul.

VP said...

A modern and spectacular part of the city, love the sculptures...

Traveling Hawk said...

I am glad you liked it, Doug. The ball fountain, made of stainless steel, is impressive.

Traveling Hawk said...

That particular area, Gangnam, is very modern. I liked also the sculptures and was impress by her numbers in such a small space, VP.

Nefertiti said...

grandiose comme endroit !

cartim said...

Interesant aceasta parte a Seoul=ului , arhitectura moderna de aici este deosebita adaugand modernismului si cateva elemente ale culturii autohtone.
Cred ca e un oras fascinant.

Traveling Hawk said...

merci bien, Nefertiti!

Traveling Hawk said...

quod erat demonstrandum, Cartim! :)

Rama Ananth said...

It looks very modern indeed. It looks like New York. Amazing pictures.

Unknown said...

intr-adevar momente de magie in arhitectuta si arta.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, rama , for the visit!

Traveling Hawk said...

e o zona frumoasa si deloc obositoare, desi este una dintre marile artere ale orasului; cred ca asta se intampla datorita spatiilor verzi si zonelor de odihna.

RIZALENIO said...

Very creative and modern art installation they have esp that one attached to a building. There's a futuristic vibe on it.

Traveling Hawk said...

Seoul excels in such art works, Rizalenio!

escape said...

reminds me of osaka and tokyo. east asia is simply the modern oriental.

Traveling Hawk said...

you are so right, dong ho! thanks for the visit.