Subverting the Gaze... The 'Democratic' Value Embraced by Rooftops

The act of looking down at the world from a high vantage point, such as a rooftop, offers a unique psychological journey. Problems that seem overwhelming at ground level appear minuscule from above, providing a sense of comfort and perspective. For urban dwellers, rooftops serve as accessible escapes, offering a moment of respite from daily pressures. The simple act of enjoying a cool breeze while overlooking the city lights can be profoundly soothing.

Architecturally, the flat roof, a product of 19th-century concrete innovation, transformed the simple covering of a building into a new 'artificial land.' This space, once relegated to housing water tanks or machinery, has been rediscovered. The push for rooftop beautification for the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the subsequent mandatory installation of stairs marked a turning point, leading to the emergence of rooftop rooms ('oktopbang'). While often unofficial, these spaces brought warmth to stark rooftops. In Western cities, similar transformations occurred, with flat roofs eventually accommodating 'aerial gardens,' a concept championed by modernist architect Le Corbusier, aiming to restore lost ground-level greenery.

Across cultures, rooftops have been depicted in art as spaces of liberation and healing. In the drama 'Misaeng,' characters retreat to the rooftop to escape office pressures and share confidences, highlighting it as a 'lawless zone' free from workplace hierarchies. In the film 'Architecture 101,' a rooftop becomes a secret, romantic space where past and present converge for the protagonists. Even traditional Korean architecture, with its sloped tiled roofs, offered a sense of escape, with artists like Jang Seung-eop seeking solace in the visual rhythm of the tiles.

Today, rooftops are no longer mere coverings but are considered the 'fifth facade' by architects, integrated as crucial design elements. Projects like the Yokohama Pier Terminal in Japan have transformed roofs into pedestrian walkways, blurring the line between roof and ground. Ewha Womans University's Campus Center in Seoul buries the building underground, restoring the roof as a natural-looking hill, creating a visual magic where architecture disappears into landscape. The remodeling of the former Dangin-ri Power Plant in Seoul into a cultural complex will feature one of the city's largest rooftop plazas, offering stunning riverside views comparable to Manhattan.

In contemporary South Korea, where standardized apartments dominate, rooftops hold significant potential. Even a few stories up, the world presents a different face, expanding our understanding of the ground we stand on. Despite safety and management concerns that lead many apartment complexes to keep them closed, innovative architectural solutions can maximize the benefits of rooftops, far outweighing their drawbacks.