Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the District's Founding
A Festival of Architecture and Culture
Gangnam District in Seoul (District Mayor Cho Sungmyung) will host the 14th Gangnam Beautiful Architecture Exhibition from September 22 to 28 at the east lobby of COEX. On September 24 at 4 p.m. during the exhibition, an awards ceremony and an Architecture Symposium will also take place.
Since 2006, Gangnam District has annually selected "Beautiful Architecture" to enhance the cityscape and encourage the development of architectural culture. This year, a total of 15 awards were given: one Grand Prize, two Excellence Prizes, three Merit Prizes, and nine Beautiful Architecture Prizes.
The Grand Prize this year went to the "Atec Building," located on Nonhyeon-ro 26-gil in Dogok-dong. This is the headquarters of an architectural firm, with one basement level and four floors above ground. The building received high praise for its facade, which evokes a sense of layered time by interweaving new bricks with existing ones. The Excellence Prizes were awarded to Dreiecke (Bongeunsa-ro 44-gil) and Coffee Theater (Dosan-daero 11-gil), while the Merit Prizes went to Glacia, Color Station, and Philosophy.
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the district's founding, this year's exhibition is structured to connect the "past, present, and future." The exhibition of award-winning works highlights today's architecture, the archive of past winners showcases the evolution of Gangnam's architecture, and sections featuring works by world-renowned architects and innovative urban design selections present a vision for Gangnam's future. The Gangnam Architecture Culture Festival, held in collaboration with the Gangnam Architects Association, will also take place simultaneously, allowing visitors to appreciate outstanding works by local architects.
A variety of citizen participation programs are available. These include a silkscreen workshop at 3 p.m. on September 27 and 28, tours of the award-winning design offices, and guided tours of the winning buildings. Some programs require registration through the Seoul City Public Service Reservation website, and detailed visitor information can be found on the official website of the Gangnam Beautiful Architecture Exhibition.
Cho Sungmyung, Mayor of Gangnam District, stated, “As we mark the 50th anniversary of the district’s founding, I hope this event reaffirms that architecture is not just about physical space, but is a crucial asset that determines the dignity and aesthetics of a city. We will continue to advance architectural culture together with our residents and create future-oriented urban spaces.”
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