IOTA Seoul project near Seoul Station by Foster + Partners

On August 20, 2025, Foster + Partners revealed plans for a new architectural landmark in the heart of Seoul. The project, named “IOTA Seoul I”, will rise next to Seoul Station. It will feature a six-star luxury hotel, a 34-storey office tower, and a modern tourism center. The center will include a rooftop garden overlooking a new central park, described by the architects as a “green oasis” for the city.

Public space and urban connections

The masterplan allocates 40% of the site to public use, while preserving the hitoric lobby of an existing hotel on the site. The ground levels will be reconfigured to introduce new pedestrian routes. This will improve access to the station and surrounding attractions, weaving the development into the existing urban fabric.

Night view of illuminated towers rising above the central park, highlighting the interplay between architecture and greenery. — A nocturnal perspective reveals the hotel and office towers overlooking a central park, expressing the contrast and connection between built form and landscape.

Sustainable vision

Sustainability is central to the design. Approximately 47% of the project’s electricity will come from solar panels integrated into façades and rooftops. This is complemented by ground-source heating and cooling systems. Green terraces and rooftop gardens will further integrate nature into daily urban life. This offers both environmental and social value for central Seoul

Close-up of suspended greenery around the towers, with pathways blending into the vegetal design. — The fusion of built structures and landscaped terraces is evident: suspended gardens and green zones that animate the development.

Architectural statement

Luke Fox, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, commented:
“Our aim is to extend the experience of Namsan Park into the development, creating a welcoming destination for the people of Seoul. The scheme balances nature and the city through buildings interwoven with landscaped community spaces. This design brings long-term social and environmental benefits.”

Interior scene showcasing large windows that usher natural daylight, framed by indoor greenery. — Inside, daylight streams through expansive glass façades to meet the greenery, enhancing both visual warmth and sensory experience.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The article introduces IOTA Seoul I as an urban intervention near Seoul Station, where images reveal glass façades contrasted with layered green terraces. The design aims to merge city and nature. The visual composition emphasizes a dialogue between vertical office and hotel towers and the fluidity of landscaped spaces. Yet, questions arise over how well this typology can integrate with the cultural and spatial identity of central Seoul. This consideration is particularly important amid rapid urban change. Still, the project sets a constructive precedent for embedding sustainability and accessible public space within dense metropolitan contexts.

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