UNStudio has completed a large-scale design intervention with the objective of erasing the impersonality of South Korea's ubiquitous apartment blocks. The Dutch office has created distinct identities across two residential developments in the city of Daegu, the fourth largest in the country, where high-density living and multi-level towers are the norm.

IPARK, image by Edmon Leong via UNStudio

Commissioned by Hyundai Development Company, Blocks 1 and 2 of the IPARK project have been turned into a canvas for pointillist art. The 'I' in 'IPARK' stands for innovation, symbolizing the developer's commitment to think beyond the usual apartment typology. 'PARK' references the internal courtyard spaces that give residents a quiet place to convene and interact. Supported by extensive trees and vegetation, the programmable space also includes a forest zone that acts as a buffer between the human scale of the park and the mass of the apartments. They also serve as natural privacy screens for units on the lower levels.

IPARK, image by Rohspace via UNStudio

The multi-coloured facade produces the effect of a consolidated mega-block that also generates individual traits. The walls form a system of horizontal bands that offer the intended depth and shadow effect. The elevations facing the central courtyards are clad in warmer hues to reflect the intimacy of these green spaces.

The sprawling development contains shared amenities — including a library, swimming pool, retail outlets, fitness centres — interspersed with a 400-metre running track and a gravel forest trail. A number of wide boulevards link these areas together, while more narrow pathways lead to the lobbies of the respective buildings.

What do you think of the development? Is this an effective way of sprucing up faceless tower blocks?