Gangnam Style: MVRDV Transforms Seoul Eyesore into Glowing LED Landmark

Inhabitat favorite <a href="http://www.mvrdv.nl/" target="_blank">MVRDV</a> has transformed an outdated building in the chic neighborhood of Gangam, Seoul into a modern, glowing <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/led/">LED-lit</a> landmark. The renovation updated the aging Chungha building with an additional story and a modern facade that lights up Apgujung Road with color-changing <a href="http://inhabitat.com/amsterdams-renovated-rijksmuseum-shines-750000-innovative-led-lights-on-its-art/" target="_blank">LEDs</a>.

The original Chungha building was built in the 1980's and it became outdated over time as as modern buildings sprang up all along Apgujung Road.

The rounded façade held a mishmash of signs and fonts, giving it a messy look amongst the more sophisticated architecture surrounding it.

In order to modernize the building,<a href="http://inhabitat.com/mvrdv-to-transform-industrial-port-in-caen-normandy-into-urban-gardens/" target="_blank"> MVRDV</a> decided to open up the space, adding a myriad of glass windows at different levels of the building.

The large windows now serve as advertising spaces instead of the mixed font signs that crowded the façade before.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/studio-toggles-dynamic-led-media-facade-changes-the-face-of-moscows-pushkinsky-cinema/rossiyas-flourish-toggle-studio-3/" target="_blank">Glowing LED lights</a> change colors continuously at night, drawing visitors to the building and making it a landmark on the street.

The modern renovation revitalized the building’s look and use while preserving the building's existing structure. Impressively, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/mvrdv-breaks-ground-on-green-roofed-business-district-at-shanghai-hongqiao-airport/" target="_blank">MVRDV</a> finished the renovations in just nine months.