10 Ideas and 12 Designs Selected
'Vacant House Utilization Smart Farm' Wins Idea Category Grand Prize
'Alley Communication Space' Proposed Design Category Grand Prize
Seoul City selected 22 winning entries in an idea contest aimed at utilizing abandoned vacant houses.
Grand Prize Winner in the Citizen Idea Contest for Utilizing Vacant Houses, Idea Category: "Emptying Vacant Houses and Filling Green Infrastructure" (Photo by Seoul City)
On the 20th, Seoul City announced that it had finalized 22 winners out of 84 submissions in the 'Vacant House Utilization Idea Contest' held jointly with Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation from July to August.
The judging focused on four criteria for practical use of vacant houses: △feasibility (utilization) △creativity △publicness △completeness. In the first round, twice the number of winners (24 entries per category) were selected, and in the second round, a panel of seven experts in architecture, urban planning, and landscaping decided the final winners and rankings.
The grand prize in the idea category was awarded to "Empty the Vacant House and Fill with Green Infrastructure," which planned to create a smart farm using vacant house lots in alleyways, sell the produced vegetables through a smart store, and develop a smart forest utilizing rainwater.
Grand Prize in the Design Category of the Vacant House Utilization Citizen Idea Contest: 'Miadong Alley House' (Photo by Seoul City)
The grand prize in the design category went to "Mia-dong Alley House," which proposed creating horizontal and vertical pathways between buildings in low-rise residential areas to serve as spaces for community harmony and communication. This work was highly praised for effectively reflecting the regional characteristics unique to low-rise residential areas.
Other selected plans included △creating various spaces using modular units △communication spaces near university areas △Stay with Seoul for short-term residence △community spaces linked with schools △gardens utilizing vacant houses, among others.
The contest results can be viewed on the Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation website. An exhibition will also be held at the Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall (Jung-gu, Jeong-dong) in conjunction with the 16th Seoul Architecture Culture Festival starting from the 2nd of next month.
Han Byung-yong, Director of the Housing Office at Seoul City, said, "As long-neglected vacant houses have recently emerged as a social issue, we held this contest not only to address policy concerns but also to seek innovative solutions through citizens' ideas. We will continue to utilize vacant houses in various ways so that they can become hubs that revitalize local communities."
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