Judging Based on Creativity, Suitability, and Feasibility
Utilized During the Establishment of the Seongsu Strategic Maintenance District Basic Plan
Seoul City announced on the 25th that it has finally selected 20 outstanding ideas in a contest held to transform the Seongsu Strategic Maintenance Zone cover park into a waterfront cultural residential complex connected to the Hangang River.
Seongsu Strategic Maintenance District Covered Park and Waterfront Space Landmark Idea Contest Grand Prize Winner 'Jipyeongui Park'. Photo by Seoul City
The contest saw participation from students and experts in urban planning, architecture, and landscaping, as well as general citizens. Ideas were received on three-dimensional spatial planning, cultural tourism content and specialized facilities, and programs to revitalize the cover park.
The grand prizes were awarded to three works: △The Boundless Flow of Nature △SEONGSU ON CLOUDS NINE △Wave of Hangang. A total of 17 creative ideas (3 excellence awards, 4 encouragement awards, and 10 honorable mentions) were selected to strengthen the public nature of the privatized Hangang riverside and to rebirth it as a vibrant urban space.
'The Boundless Flow of Nature' was highly evaluated for connecting the green axis of Seoul Forest and Ttukseom Hangang Park and for its circulation plan using graceful curves that align with the flexibility of the Hangang riverside. SEONGSU ON CLOUDS NINE captured diverse vibrant spaces through a flexible design inspired by flowing clouds and nine themed spaces along the Hangang riverside. Wave of Hangang expressed the restored nature and increased biodiversity of the Hangang River through a nature-friendly park plan connecting Ttukseom and Seoul Forest into one green space.
Seongsu Strategic Maintenance Zone Covered Park and Waterfront Space Landmark Idea Contest Grand Prize 'SEONGSU ON CLOUDS NINE'. Photo by Seoul City
The judging committee comprehensively evaluated creativity, suitability, and feasibility to select 20 final awardees. Winners will receive a total prize money of 17 million KRW and the Seoul Mayor’s Award next month. The panel did not select a grand prize winner this time, judging that although the creativity was excellent, additional review and supplementation were needed regarding feasibility considering the site-specific characteristics of the Hangang riverside.
The awarded works proposed creative spatial concepts that organically connect the city, waterfront, and Hangang to improve accessibility between Seongsu and the Hangang, which is currently cut off by the Gangbyeonbuk-ro Expressway. Various spatial plans and programs were also suggested, such as exhibition spaces like libraries or galleries and water leisure facilities to transform the narrow waterfront area into a lively place. The cover park, serving as a pedestrian path connecting Seongsu and the Hangang and as a green axis linking Seoul Forest and Ttukseom Hangang Park, was also proposed to be developed as a green ecological space.
Seongsu Strategic Maintenance District Covered Park and Waterfront Space Landmark Idea Contest Grand Prize 'Wave of Hangang'. Photo by Seoul City
The city plans to share the diverse ideas from the winning works on the Seoul City website and the Nae Sonan-e Seoul (Seoul in My Hand) homepage, and also organize an exhibition. The concepts and ideas of the submitted works, including the winners, will be reviewed, and excellent proposals that can be utilized will be incorporated into the basic plan for the waterfront space in the Seongsu Strategic Maintenance Zone.
Han Byung-yong, Director of the Housing Office, said, "We appreciate the great interest and response from citizens, and we will refer to the submitted ideas to prepare creative utilization plans that meet citizens’ demands and make the waterfront space a landmark."
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