Gangnam-gu Selects Winning Design for 'Suseo-dong Public Library'... Construction to Begin in June Next Year

Polaris and SEOP Architects Selected Entry
Total Floor Area 6,629㎡‥Completion Scheduled for December 2026

Perspective view of Suseo-dong Public Library. Provided by Gangnam-gu Office.

Gangnam-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) announced on the 14th that it held a design competition to build a hub-type public library combining cultural, educational, and community functions in the area of 593 Suseo-dong, and on the 8th, the joint entry by Polaris Architects Office and SEOP Architects Office was selected as the winning design.

The winning design's cost reaches 1.67 billion KRW, making it a large-scale construction project to create a landmark in Gangnam.

The site for the library is a 3,899㎡ (1,181 pyeong) plot within the Seoul Segok 2 Public Housing District, developed by Seoul Housing Corporation (SH). This land had a low land use value due to a building limit line occupying 36% of the site area, which delayed development.

In response, the district conducted a research project for the establishment of a public library in November 2019 and purchased the land from SH in April 2021. Subsequently, to build a library reflecting the regional characteristics of Suseo-dong, a design competition was held in January this year. A total of 54 entries were submitted, and the results of the design competition review were announced this time.

The winning design was praised for well capturing the regional characteristics of Suseo-dong, one of Gangnam’s representative green zones. Suseo-dong is a nature-friendly environment surrounded by the greenery of Daemosan and Gwangsusan mountains, and it preserves the tranquility of Gungmaeul (Palace Village), the kiln site ruins, and the site of Bongheon Temple, which have continued since the Joseon Dynasty.

The winning design proposed the basic concept of “Four Seasons of the Forest,” emphasizing the beauty of natural greenery and sunlight. Additionally, it incorporated three concepts: Village Road Library, Landscape Library, and Scene Library.

The scale is one basement floor and four above-ground floors, with a total floor area of 6,629.32㎡ (2,008 pyeong). The first floor of the library connects entirely to outdoor spaces. The lobby opens to the front plaza, the book caf? connects to the library road, the multipurpose room opens to the waterside yard, and the step library extends to the forest walking path. The second floor features curved windows that capture greenery and the sky. The third floor has curved balconies facing the forest and city, allowing a sense of openness even on the upper floors. The fourth floor consists of a void space where sunlight falls inside, a reading forest where visitors can enjoy books and the forest simultaneously, and spaces wrapped in refined light through a double skin fa?ade.

The district plans to complete the basic and detailed designs centered on the winning design by May next year, start construction in June next year, and complete the project by December 2026.

Mayor Jo Seong-myeong said, “I hope the library, which has been a long-cherished wish of the residents, will become a place of rest where they can enjoy the beautiful nature of Suseo-dong along with books, and a place of communication that people want to visit again.” He added, “We will make the public complex cultural facility not only convenient for residents but also a landmark representing Gangnam.”