[Report] Embracing the Forests and Intellect of Paris's Sorbonne... Lotte Construction Unveils 'Mokdong Le El' Lounge

Carrying On Mokdong’s 40-Year Legacy of Education
Lotte Construction Unveils the "Sorbonne Project"
A Residential Space Blending Forest and Education

On September 15, the Le El Lounge in Mokdong, located right in front of Omokgyo Station in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Upon entering the entrance on the third floor, a landscape completely different from the bustling atmosphere of Mokdong city unfolded. Walking along the quiet and serene path, the space was filled with scents, sounds, and scenery so carefully curated that one could almost be mistaken for being in the heart of a forest.

On the 15th, at Leel Lounge in Mokdong, located right in front of Omokgyo Station in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. As soon as you enter through the entrance on the 3rd floor, a scene completely different from the bustling city atmosphere of Mokdong unfolds in 180 degrees. Walking along a calm and quiet forest path, it felt as if you had entered a forest, with fragrance, sounds, and scenery all perfectly set. Photo by Seong-A Sim

This is a promotional lounge established by Lotte Construction as it embarks in earnest on the competition to win reconstruction projects for the 14 complexes in Mokdong, which together will form a mini new city of about 26,000 households. Hyojung Hong, Team Leader of the Interior Team at Lotte Construction, introduced, "Beyond the visual elements of the lounge, sensory triggers such as the sounds of nature and forest fragrances represent the landscaping spaces that will be featured in the future Mokdong Le El complex."

Lotte Construction described the concept of Mokdong Le El as the "Sorbonne Project." The name is borrowed from the Sorbonne University, located in the Latin Quarter of Paris, drawing inspiration from the area's nature, relaxation, culture, academia, and intellect. They explained that this aligns with Mokdong's image as a community where residential living, education, nature, and green spaces are integral. Donghyuk Kwon, Group Leader of the Urban Maintenance Team at Lotte Construction, stated, "Mokdong has 40 years of pride as an education city," adding, "When thinking about how to continue this legacy to the next generation, we viewed Mokdong (which means 'wood' in Korean) as both a city of education and a city of forests, making that the starting point of the 'Sorbonne Project.'"

Within this broad "Sorbonne" concept, Lotte Construction aims to create a residential culture where learning becomes a part of everyday life through features like book cafés and premium study spaces, and to seamlessly connect architecture with forest. The company also intends to make art an everyday presence through modern art and curatorial activities.

On the 15th, Lotte Construction officials explained the Mokdong New Town bid strategy and the Leell Lounge at Leell Lounge located in front of Omokgyo Station, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. From the right in the photo: Donghyuk Kwon, Group Leader of Urban Maintenance Team; Hyojung Hong, Team Leader of Interior Team; Kangsu Song, Team Leader of Design Team; Youngsoo Kang, Team Leader of Urban Maintenance Team. Photo by Seonga Sim

Currently, Lotte Construction is focusing its promotional efforts on complexes 2, 7, 11, and 14 out of the 14 Mokdong complexes. Group Leader Kwon said, "We plan to maximize synergy with the group's hotel services, retail businesses, and cultural foundations," emphasizing that, "even after completion, we will pay close attention to community operations and management."

Kangsu Song, Team Leader of the Design Team at Lotte Construction, noted, "We are considering bringing in overseas architectural firms," and added, "We will work with organizations such as the Sorbonne to further specify the designs." He went on, "We hope to create spaces within the city where people can feel a sense of sanctuary as if being in a forest," and "we are planning to increase the proportion of green spaces within the complex as well."

The Mokdong Lounge is scheduled to officially open next January. Any resident of the Mokdong area is welcome to visit. The lounge plans to host weekly community concerts for local residents, and on days without concerts, tax and financial services will be available.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.