The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) was designed by British Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, winner of the 2004 Pritzker Prize, with the concept of "Metonymic Landscape." Metonymy refers to a method of describing a specific object indirectly and, Hadid integrated historical, cultural, urban, social, and economic aspects of Seoul deduced from this method in order to create a scene of landscape. Designed as a cultural hub in the historical district of Seoul as well as Korea's largest fashion district, the DDP is composed of undulating surfaces that resemble the flow of liquid and allow the flexibility in space. The state-of-the-art BIM (Building Information Modeling), mega-truss (extra-large roof truss) system, and space frame system are the key features in terms of creating grand-scale spaces. According to Hadid, the fundamental features of her design were "transparency, porousness, and durability." Many ecological features, double-skin facade, solar panels, and recycling water system are included in the building.

The construction project for replacing Dongdaemun Stadium with a public park had been discussed since 2000 in the media, and the city of Seoul established a basic master plan for alternating the function of Dongdaemun Stadium in 2005. To secure a high-quality design for the new landmark of Seoul, the city invited architects in February 2007 to participate in a design competition. Entrants were asked to include a design plaza, underground spaces, and a history and culture park for the project. Zaha Hadid's Metonymic Landscape won the competition. The exterior envelope of the DDP, a smooth and giant mushroom-like structure floating above ground level, is made of concrete, aluminium, steel, and stone. The interior is finished with plaster reinforced with synthetic fiber, acoustic tiles, acrylic resin, stainless steel and polished stone.

Main Programs: The DDP has 3 underground levels and 4 above-ground levels, and the main building is 280 meters long. The building is equipped with diverse public spaces including exhibition hall, conference hall, design museum, the design lab, the academy hall, media center, seminar room, Dongdaemun History and Culture Park, the designers lounge, and the design market.

The art hall is a key space for conventions, trade shows, exhibitions, fashion shows, concerts, and performances. The museum hall consists of five sections and allows many artists to engage in the design industry and exchange their ideas. The design playground, Design Dulle-gil (trail), the design museum, the design exhibition hall, and the design rest area are located inside the museum hall.

The design lab operates as an incubator for budding product designers from inside and outside the country. The design market is a multipurpose space for cultural event and shopping, and opens 24/24 to provide a public space for visitors and residents of Dongdaemun Market, the town that never sleeps. In addition, the DDP has parking areas, dispensaries, a feeding room, a coatroom, a cafe, and other facilities operated and managed by the Seoul Design Foundation of the city of Seoul.

History: Dongdaemun Stadium - the first modern stadium in Korea - was built during the Japanese Colonial Period to celebrate the wedding of the Japanese Prince. From 1925 until its demolition in 2007, various national sports and celebration events were held there. The stadium was abandoned after the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and became a local market and the largest fashion hub in South Korea.

Around the district of Dongdaemun, Dongdaemun-gu, a fortress wall once existed to protect Hanyang (the capital of Chosun). However, the wall was damaged and destroyed because of the changes in war tactics and weapons, transportation infrastructure, and the rapid development, and the expansion of the city. The first demolition was conducted in 1889 for the construction of the trolley railway between two area of Seoul, Seodaemun and Cheongnyangni. The wall in the vicinity of Dongdaemun was demolished in 1908 during the visit of the Japanese prince, and a wall connecting Dongdaemun and Gwnaghwamun was destroyed to build Gyeongseong Sports Complex in order to celebrate the marriage of the Japanese prince during the Japanese Emperor Hirohito's reign in 1924. The construction of residential housing for citizens further destroyed the remaining walls, and a number of illegal constructions after the Korean War accelerated the demolition process.

The construction of Gyeongseong Sports Complex in 1925, later known as Dongdaemun Stadium, resulted in further demolition of the wall and the buildings near the area. The first modern stadium was renamed the Seoul Sports Complex after Korea became independent, and the stadium became an important venue for various national events. The complex was once more renamed the Dongdaemun Sports Complex, and its use decreased when the Jamsil Sports Complex was built in 1984 for the Seoul Olympics.

The Dongdaemun commercial area developed in the latter part of the Chosun Dynasty when people started to create a autonomous market place around Baeogae. Another large-scale modern market, Gwangjang Market, was formed, and the district became a constellation of various markets and small businesses. In 1960s, a large number of sewing factories were built near Pyenghwa Market, Dongdaemun-gu, and the market soon became the largest shopping district for shopping. With the addition of Miliore, shopping mall for fashion constructed in 1998, the area has become a new retail sphere where citizens and other visitors buy the latest fashions at a reasonable price.

Dongdaemun History & Culture Park is located on the east side of the DDP. The park connects the round-shape Downtown Green Field Corridor from Mt. Naksan to Mt. Namsan, and serves as a cultural space for exhibiting historic and cultural assets of Seoul. Originally, Hadid designed this area as a design street that introduces the latest design trends, but during the excavation and demolition process of Dongdaemun Stadium started in December 2007, various historical remains were found. The city of Seoul established an excavation and investigation team for a safe and detailed survey in the area. In June 2009, the city decided to preserve and exhibit the excavated remains and announced the construction of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park.