Which Zaha Hadid-designed building in Seoul is a major cultural complex?

The Zaha Hadid-designed major cultural complex in Seoul is Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Usually abbreviated DDP, Dongdaemun Design Plaza is a landmark in Seoul’s Dongdaemun district. Zaha Hadid and the Korean firm Samoo designed the complex, whose fluid, neofuturistic forms were developed from Hadid’s concept of a “Metonymic Landscape.” It officially opened on March 21, 2014.

DDP replaced Dongdaemun Stadium and combines exhibition halls, a design museum, conference facilities, a design laboratory, retail areas and public spaces. Its roof forms a walkable park, while the surrounding development incorporates preserved portions of Seoul’s historic fortress remains.

The complex is more than a single exhibition building: it is an urban cultural hub at the centre of Seoul’s fashion district. Its long, curving structure measures about 280 metres and includes three underground levels and four above-ground levels. A frequent mix-up is treating Seoul Arts Center or Lotte World Tower as the answer; both are major Seoul landmarks, but neither is Hadid’s Dongdaemun complex.