쌍용건설

- Gungjeon Apartments in Bangbae makes sweeping transformation into SsangYong Yega -

27-year-old apartments get basement parking lots; elevators extended to basement for the first time in Korea
Each unit gets extra space of 23 to 36㎡(7~10 pyong); entire complex undergoes a facelift, including interior design, gardening
A number of patent in engineering techniques developed: pillars changing directions, elevators extended to basement

Imagine building a parking lot under an existing apartment building. Is it possible? Yes! This transformation, which was once thought to be impossible, has now become a reality.

SsangYong Engineering and Construction (Chairman, KIM Suk-joon) announced on January 9th that the company had successfully completed renovation of an apartment complex into SsangYong Yega Classic in Bangbae-dong (formerly Bangbae Gungjeon Apartment) comprising three buildings of 216 housing units. . In this renewed complex, new basement parking lots were built and elevators linked to them, apartment interior spaces were expanded, and the interior renovated, while gardens and the existing building frames were left unchanged, for the first time in Korea.

In the past, it had been unthinkable to extend elevators to the basement, while leaving old apartment building shells untouched, because the foundation(pit) must endure quakes and vibrations.

SsangYong installed a temporary structure in the basement that could sustain the building, dug through the foundation, and then extended the elevators (Technique for elevator extension to basement / Patent No. 05-91071)

The company extended elevators to the basement, and created basement parking lots while the pre-existing frames of the old apartment buildings were being supported in between the buildings. In addition to basement parking lots, public facilities for common use were also added, including lockers for each unit, clubrooms, conference rooms, reading rooms, and a gym for the residents.

Also, each unit gained extra spaces of 23 to 36㎡; 92㎡-unit growing to 115㎡(84 homes), 119㎡ to 148.5㎡(60 homes), 138㎡ to 175㎡(72 homes).
In particular, the extra spaces were gained through a technology called “Independent Quake-Proof Structure” which does not rely on the existing buildings, after they were built separately, and then linked to the existing frames, thus ensuring the stability of the buildings.

Also, a new engineering technology was developed which changes the direction of pillars in the existing buildings by 90 degrees vertically or horizontally and allows the generation of a modern, efficient space of contemporary design. The company applied for a patent (Patent application 06-17872-7) for this technology.

For the exterior of the apartment buildings, lower levels centered on entrances with classical style, and middle levels with a modern, western style with a controlled look, while upper levels feature molding decoration of a classical look, which constitutes a post-modern classical style. The elevator core was designed in a stately and beautiful fashion by installing arcade-type pilotis.

Meanwhile, the prices of the apartments, relative to the amounts of money home owners paid for renovation, are 900 million won, up from 370 million won, for 115㎡ (formerly 92㎡) units with 100 million won invested; 1.1 billion won, up from 460 million won, for 148㎡(formerly 119㎡) units with 130 million won invested; and 1.4 billion won, up from 590 million won, for 175㎡ (formerly 138㎡) units, respectively.

Commenting on this, Choi Geum-sang, a 56 year-old woman said, “When we were discussing remodeling in the beginning, we were worried that the old apartment buildings were going to see only cosmetic changes, but as it turned out there was nothing to worry about. I am very satisfied in all aspects, including financial gains, since we have reaped a big benefit for a small investment.”

A SsangYong official said “SsangYong has opened a new chapter in the history of apartment remodeling in Korea, since we successfully created new basement parking lots, and extended elevators to the basement, which is unprecedented for any builder in Korea.” He added, “Another notable feat is the fact that we successfully arranged loans from a commercial bank to homeowners for the renovation and rental fees to help ease their short-term financial burden (during the remodeling work).”

Residents at Bangbae Gungjeon Apartment complex, which was completed in 1978, chose to undertake a renovation project to improve old facilities, and ease shortages of parking spaces. They picked SsangYong as the contractor through a landslide vote of 95.4 percent of residents in June 2003. The project started in July 2005, and finished 18 months later in December 2006.

SsangYong has set many outstanding records in remodeling of upscale buildings, including the Raffles Hotel, a national landmark hotel of Singapore; and the Louis Vuitton New Concept Store, the largest single store of Louis Vuitton in Asia. Based on these distinguished accomplishments, SsangYong became the contractor for the renovation of Bangbae Kyeongnam Apartment Complex in Bangbae-dong, Dongshin Apartment Complex in Dogok-dong (the first case in which a reconstruction plan was replaced with remodeling), and Pyeonghwa Apartment in Dangsan (the first renovation in a non-Gangnam area).

□ Attachment: General view of Bangbae-dong Yega Classic (Formerly Gungjeon Apartment Complex