Spatial Plan within a Contemporary Milieu: The Republic of Korea The intention of this thesis is to develop a spatial plan for an underdeveloped country within the constraints of the current milieu. A three level approach is taken to describe the environment into which the eventual plan must fit. The general theme that runs throughout the three levels is one of a central oriented society. The plan suggests that the most rational location of new development under these constraints is the suburban area of the primate city and that the form of development might best be industrial estates. The first level of analysis deals with centralization trends in contemporary Korea; the country is currently undergoing rapid urbanization. This is most intense in the capital city of Seoul, where there is a centripetal concentration of economic activity as well as population. The second level is an investigation of the Korean government development policy. The First (1961) and Second (1966) Five-Year Plans have given priority to economic efficiency and increasing the industrial-manufacturing sector. The third level, the cultural milieu, offers up an historic precedent as a basis for contemporary society. Examination within this context of the current broad based education system and the structure of government reveal an apparent institutional manifestation of earlier philosophical tenets. The above three levels of investigation are developed in a parallel fashion, coming together in the proposed plan for the Republic of Korea - suburban development of industrial estates near Seoul. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / The world is changing fast in every fi eld of technology. As technology rapidly develops, humans need to adapt to excessive learning and work loads, in order to meet the current society demands. Extreme stress accumulates, and nega vely aff ects peoples’ physical health. Stress causes many mental illnesses as well. However, many people avoid going to mental hospitals, because of the s gma or the nega ve stereotype associated with mental illness. Therefore, people try to relieve their stress in physical ways by exercising, travelling, or partaking in other leisure ac vi es. They use psychology, religion, therapy, or medita on to relieve their stress. Today, in South Korea, many people work long hours into the night and on the weekend. Many of these people cannot aff ord treatments that relieve stress, because they do not have the me or the money. Most South Koreans spend their days in their work space. In a highly compe ve work environment and networking environment created by social media, the South Korean people lose self-esteem. People blame the social structure and hierarchy for the defec ve working culture. People get depressed or lose their self-esteem by being submissive, rather than fully expressing their opinions especially regarding the ruling class. As a result, many people plan or consider emigra ng. South Koreans, o en forget or lose their iden es and essen al quali es. This document suggests that an urban medita on centre should be built close to the business districts in South Korea. People could visit the centre whenever they need a break from their tough working environment. Visitors to the medita on centre would use all their senses to feel alive, and to realise and reaffi rm their existence. Through this sensory experience, they would also be able to meditate and fi nd inner peace. This report aims to research how architecture can help to release stress in an urban context and how this space could enhance peoples’ various sensory experiences. Healing architecture explores all the human senses using the theory of phenomenology / XL2018