Journal of the Korean Housing Association ISSN:2234-3571(Print) 2234-2257(Online) 한국주거학회논문집

This investigation is to question as to whether and how much urban residential superblocks have changed the uses of facilities, as compared with original zoning plan. The difference between the original plan for ‘land use’ in 1960's and current ‘building uses’ has been examined on six superblocks in Seoul, and the reasons for change were analyzed. Investigation results are as follows: As the original urban planning was intended for use-purification by the subdivision of zones in a superblock through zoning, current buildings uses are different from the land-use. Commercial facilities are located in residential zone along community paths because of the necessity, and business buildings are placed on the appropriate-sized lots in the middle of residential blocks, due to the need of small and low-rent offices. Also, different types of residence have been built on convenient locations in commercial zone to meet various housing needs. In conclusion, the current zoning system plays a role of controling the volume of buildings rather than the use of land. Therefore, mixed use of land, not functional separation, becomes a natural phenomenon taken place in the contemporary cities, and it is high time to adopt a mixed-use zoning system.