Seoul City announced on the 11th that it has filed complaints with the Gangdong Police Station and Seocho Police Station, the competent police stations, against Heerim Architects & Planners and Now Architects & Planners for ▲attempted fraud ▲obstruction of business and bid interference, for violating the competition guidelines related to the architectural design of the reconstruction of Apgujeong 3 District.
Seoul City explained, "Ahead of the selection of a design firm for establishing the maintenance plan for Apgujeong 3 District, they presented a design plan that did not comply with the floor area ratio and other criteria set by the city, thereby deceiving the union members and residents."
Previously, the Heerim-Now consortium sparked controversy for violating guidelines by proposing a floor area ratio of 360%, exceeding the maximum 300% allowed by Seoul City's Rapid Integrated Planning Plan.
The city has requested the autonomous district office, responsible for supervising this design competition process, to take administrative action against the designers of the plan, and plans to thoroughly manage the project to ensure that the Rapid Integrated Planning Plan for Apgujeong 3 District is implemented as intended.
Seoul City intends to respond strictly to designers who mislead residents and disrupt the market with distorted designs that do not comply with relevant regulations, in order to establish a proper design culture going forward.
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