Onggi Village, Ulsan, Korea, 2021

For Koreans who love fermenting food, Onggi once was one of the most familiar containers. But with the development of cheap and handy materials such as plastic and stainless steel, demand for Onggi has decreased. Oego-san Onggi Village needs to take a deep breath and exhale slowly. After half a century of trying to coax it into place, it’s time to reconnect the village to its essence to propel it towards a sustainable future.

With wellness and eco-consciousness becoming global concerns, people are pursuing healthier consumption for both their lives and the earth. Onggi can be a potent symbol for this terrestrial shift. We propose a unique experience of Oego-san Onggi Village to restore locality and create a long-term sustainable environment in which local people, especially young people, can settle in industries expanded from the program.

Our vision creates a sustainable village economically, ecologically, and culturally. This ambition asks for a reinterpretation of both past and future. It also requires us to think not only top-down but also bottom-up. Rather than a “master plan,” we propose an agenda to transform Oego-san Onggi Village into a thriving year-round community with a clear and enticing identity. Our strategy presents a holistic editorial voice from over 50 creatives, who developed this grand vision over three months.

Our team of architects, engineers, landscape architects, experience designers, hospitality experts, chefs, curators, and ceramicists from around the world envision this future Oego-san Onggi Village to:

• Actively engage the local community

• Establish a self-sufficient and profitable economy

• Produce in sustainable and circular loops

• Work towards zero waste and pollution, low impact, and high energy efficiency construction

• Treat materials and systems with respect to context

• Set an example for the 21st century

• Plan for changing industries

• Set standards for labor and supply chain

• Regenerate over new development

• Allow performance to inform the design

• Encourage sharing of outdoor spaces