'2020 Seoul Architecture Festival' to be held in October... Highlighting 'Tteumsae Architecture' across Seoul

Seoul City to Host 15-Day Event at Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall, etc... Chief Director Song Gyu-man Appointed Dean of Hongik University College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Seoul Architecture Awards Ceremony, Chief Director's Themed Exhibition, Architect of the Year Special Exhibition, and Free Architectural Culture Tours Offered

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The 12th edition of Seoul's representative architectural culture festival, the '2020 Seoul Architecture Festival,' will be held for 15 days this October around the Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall and Citizen Hall near Seoul City Hall.

The Seoul Architecture Festival, which began in 2009, is a festival where both general citizens interested in architecture and professionals can participate together. Centered around the 'Seoul Architecture Award,' held annually since 1979, it was established to discover outstanding individual architectural works in Seoul, promote leading architectural culture and technological development, realize the public value of architecture, and expand the base of architectural culture.

This year's theme for the Seoul Architecture Festival is 'Architecture in between.' It highlights various niche architectures throughout Seoul, reflecting not only major landmark buildings but also the current and future lifestyles and interests of Seoul citizens in housing, culture, and spaces. Examples of niche architecture include spaces given new value through urban regeneration such as the Mapo Culture Storage Base, narrow houses utilizing abandoned small spaces, and shared housing and shared offices that have emerged alongside new lifestyles.

Seoul City appointed Song Gyuman, Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Hongik University, as the general director to lead the 2020 Seoul Architecture Festival and announced this year's theme and main programs. Professor Song is an architect active in various design fields ranging from traditional architectural design to visual information, product, interior design, and spatial branding. He said, "While architectural artistry has mainly been emphasized through economic quantitative growth so far, this year we focus on the large and small niches in the architectural field to introduce an easy and enjoyable architectural culture that citizens can feel and empathize with," adding, "We will create a true architectural culture festival where architectural experts and citizens participate together by addressing stories that Seoul citizens want to hear from their perspective."

This year's main programs include the opening ceremony, Seoul Architecture Award ceremony, general director's thematic exhibition, special exhibition of the architect of the year, linked exhibitions, architectural culture tours, architectural design job festival, and lectures. All are free to participate in. The Seoul Architecture Award will set its competition categories reflecting this year's festival theme of niche architecture and major issues. The general and university student categories will be open for submissions in May, with the deadline and judging in July to select the winners.

The 2020 Seoul Architecture Festival will introduce various housing types that have recently become issues, such as public housing, shared housing, and narrow houses, and explore new residential cultures and solutions to housing problems together with citizens. Cases of newly utilized and operated spaces will also be examined. The architectural culture tour citizen participation program, which has seen high participation and response from many citizens, will continue this year as well.

Pre-events include the '38th Seoul Architecture Award' competition (May) and the 'Summer Architecture School (SAF University Student Competition)' (August).

Ryu Hoon, Head of the Seoul City Housing and Architecture Headquarters, said, "We hope that the COVID-19 situation will be fully resolved by October. Seoul City will keep all possibilities open and thoroughly implement measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while doing its best to prepare for a successful event," adding, "Architectural culture is a part of our lives that can be easily understood, usefully applied, and enjoyed with interest. This year's Seoul Architecture Festival will introduce an easy and enjoyable architectural culture that citizens can feel and empathize with, making it a true festival for all Seoul citizens to enjoy together."