Abstract
This study tried to understand an ambiguous urban landscape through a relational context. Gongpyeong district, an urban renewal area in Seoul, was selected as the site of the case study because traditional and modern styles coexist in this district. The research method and processes are summarized as follows. First, the district, which has both a redeveloped environment and an inherent environment, was divided into Yin & Yang structures. Next, an effort was made to grasp the fundamental relational characteristics(external relationships) of each type through three aspects: physical environment, activities, and meaning. As a result, Yin characteristics were found in the redeveloped environment which has predominantly Yang characteristics. In many cases, advertising, which is a Yang element, was missing in the redeveloped area. On the other hand, in the inherent environment which has Yin characteristics in general, shabby appearances were evident in aspects beyond advertising, and Yang elements, were found from the viewpoint of the theory of place. On the basis of these results, new dualistic frameworks with respect to the functions were re-structured, and complementary characteristics (internal relationship) based on topological aspects were analyzed. Unlike the monotonous appearances found in large scale environments, a variety of spatial characteristics were found in the various small scale environments. This explains that the dualistic coexistence has made a contribution to the complementary attributes of urban landscape. This study has the following ramifications. Much research of urban landscapes that has used western methodology which employs analytic aspects. As a methodology of urban landscape research this study introduced Iching, which tries to understand phenomena in a relational context. In addition, this study expects that the profound understanding of urban environments and the detailed relationship through this framework will suggest a new approach to urban planning, design and management related to future urban environments.