Bucheon City Benchmarks 'Special Architectural Zone'... Kicks Off Architectural Design Innovation

Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province announced on January 16 that it recently visited Busan to benchmark the "Special Architectural Zone Revitalization Pilot Project."

This visit was conducted to review Busan's leading institutional operation methods and achievements ahead of Bucheon City's upcoming public contest for the "Architectural Design Innovation Pilot Project" planned for this year, and to actively incorporate these insights into Bucheon's policies.

The "Special Architectural Zone" is a designated area under the Building Act aimed at creating harmonious and creative architecture. Busan City has applied this system to encourage creative architecture and to improve the urban landscape in harmony with the region's unique characteristics.

Perspective view of Nampo-dong Harbor Town, the target site for the Busan Special Architectural Zone Revitalization Pilot Project. Provided by Bucheon City

Bucheon City plans to refer to Busan's operational case to promote the creation of creative buildings that reflect local characteristics and identity. In particular, through the "2026 Architectural Design Innovation Pilot Project" public contest, the city will designate outstanding architectural designs as special architectural zones and grant various benefits such as easing floor area ratio and building distance requirements.

In addition, following a benchmarking visit to Seoul in December last year to study urban and architectural design innovation projects, Bucheon is further detailing its pilot project plans for this year through the recent visit to Busan. The city is especially focusing on reviewing ways to simplify administrative procedures and relax regulations.

Jang Hwansik, Director of Housing at Bucheon City, stated, "We plan to hold a briefing session for the pilot project contest in the first half of the year and select target sites in the second half," adding, "We will establish an institutional foundation for urban design innovation and work to strengthen urban competitiveness through architecture."