Recently, the residential market has been evolving toward "five-senses satisfaction housing," which supports children's emotional stability and creative growth. In particular, as the "living environment for children" has become a core selection criterion among people in their 30s and 40s, premium complexes that go beyond simple housing and meet children's sensory development and emotional needs are gaining popularity. Among these, "Singyeomdan Royal Park City II," developed by DK Asia in Seo-gu, Incheon, is attracting industry attention with its innovative design that stimulates all five senses.
◆ Five-senses satisfaction spaces have a positive effect on child development
"Singyeomdan Royal Park City II" by DK Asia is the first in Korea to introduce the concept of a fifth-generation luxury "K-Garden," creating a nature-friendly space where sensory experiences are possible. According to child development experts, environments that stimulate the five senses play an important role in children's cognitive development, creativity, and emotional stability, making such complexes highly regarded as safe places for children.
For example, visual stimulation enhances color recognition and concentration, while auditory stimulation positively affects language skills and social interaction. In addition, olfactory stimulation is linked to memory and emotional regulation, taste experiences help develop awareness of food and eating habits by exposing children to a variety of ingredients, and tactile experiences are known to improve physical development and sensory integration abilities.
◆ Vision: Enhancing color sensitivity through the colors of nature in all four seasons
Focusing first on vision, Singyeomdan Royal Park City II features over 1.8 million flowers and trees and landscaping that covers 38% of the site, allowing residents to experience the colors of nature throughout the four seasons within the complex. Currently, red hues are provided by Photinia and Red Maple, while golden and deep blue-green tones come from Euonymus japonicus, offering a rich visual environment that can greatly enhance children's color sensitivity. In addition, the design of hills and gardens with Korean-style curves provides visual comfort. Notably, trees such as Hackberry, Camellia, Photinia, and Osmanthus fragrans, which are typically found in the southern regions, have been planted in the central region for the first time.
◆ Hearing: Emotional healing through the sounds of water and wind
In terms of hearing, the complex features the tallest water fountain in Korea, reminiscent of Byeokchoji Arboretum, and a 400-meter-long waterway within the complex, allowing residents to enjoy the pure sounds of water along with the refreshing sounds of wind passing through the site. Especially in the largest tea house in Korea, families can enjoy tea together while appreciating the surrounding scenery and sounds, and the skywalk connecting two tea houses enriches the walking experience within the complex.
Research shows that the sounds of water, wind, and birds help stabilize the autonomic nervous system. Natural sounds are known to lower stress hormone levels, increase positive emotions, and improve concentration. In fact, a study published in 2017 in the American scientific journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) found that natural sounds such as water and birdsong are effective for emotional stability and physical relaxation.
◆ Smell: Spaces remembered by their fragrance
Singyeomdan Royal Park City II also emphasizes olfactory experiences, and for the first time in Korea, has planted large numbers of Osmanthus fragrans, a tree native to Sacheon, Gyeongnam, as landscaping trees. Osmanthus fragrans is a premium species that produces beautiful flowers and a sweet scent from autumn to winter. As its nickname "Manrihyang" (meaning "fragrance that travels ten thousand miles") suggests, its scent spreads far and wide. The fragrance of Osmanthus fragrans goes beyond simple aesthetic enjoyment, helping to provide psychological stability and relieve stress. In fact, its scent is widely used in aromatherapy and as a high-end perfume ingredient. The world-renowned luxury brand Chanel also uses Osmanthus fragrans as a raw material to create a subtle yet luxurious floral fragrance. In addition, the lilacs planted throughout the complex add a gentle and pleasant lilac scent.
◆ Taste: Developing healthy eating habits with hotel-style dining services
Singyeomdan Royal Park City II is the first in Incheon to offer three hotel-style meals a day, providing taste stimulation through a variety of ingredients. The buffet, operated by Shinsegae Food, offers a different menu every day, giving children new food experiences and helping to prevent picky eating. Experts advise that "children who have experienced a wide variety of foods are more likely to develop healthy eating habits as adults."
In particular, children are naturally helped to prevent picky eating and develop healthy eating habits by being exposed to various ingredients and cooking methods. According to the Korean Nutrition Society, it is important for growing children to have not only nutritional balance but also positive experiences with food. The more opportunities children have to try new foods, the less likely they are to reject ingredients, and the more positively their sense of taste develops.
Additionally, DK Asia has designed a large terrace overlooking a 66,000-square-meter theme park as a dining space, creating a "experience-centered food culture" that goes beyond simple meals. This allows mealtime to become a moment of emotional exchange and encourages natural communication among family members.
◆ Touch: Hands-on experience spaces like Little Everland
The Little Everland Safari World, Caribbean Bay, and forest-themed park within the complex provide children with tactile experiences where they can touch and feel nature directly. The sensations of uneven ground, the surface of leaves, and the temperature of water all provide various stimuli that enhance sensory integration abilities. This is closely related to physical development during childhood. The indoor swimming pool, decorated with European-style chandeliers, offers a hotel-level swimming experience for all family members, including children.
Jo Hyunwook, Executive Director of DK Asia, stated, "As residential spaces have become a key factor in improving quality of life beyond simply being a place to live, we designed the five-senses satisfaction K-Garden so that children can safely enjoy a variety of experiences. We aim not only to support sensory development, but also to create a resort-style space where the whole family can heal. Singyeomdan Royal Park City II will become a new residential model that supports the holistic growth of children and enriches the daily lives of families."
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