Seongsu-dong Transforms into a 'Design City'!... Seongdong-gu Establishes 'Public Design Strategy and Guidelines'

Seongsu-dong, Garro: Enhancing Urban Design Completeness with Specialized Guidelines and Systematic Masterplan

Seongsu Public Design

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) has established the ‘Seongdong-gu Public Design Strategy and Guidelines.’

The design guidelines, which will be applied to all public facilities in the area starting this year, aim to enhance the urban aesthetics while incorporating unique characteristics specific to Seongdong-gu by region and location.

The ‘Seongdong-gu Public Design Strategy and Guidelines’ focus on five main directions. They actively incorporate safe design into daily life, create convenient and easy-to-read lifestyle-oriented designs through improved signage systems, foster inclusive designs that promote communication and interaction among community members, and infuse a ‘Newtro’ sensibility that reflects Seongdong’s unique culture.

In Seongsu-dong, which has many narrow roads such as Jangteo-gil and Wangsimni Transportation Plaza, designs that distinguish sidewalks from roadways and traffic-related guidance signs have been prepared to create an accessible and pedestrian-friendly environment. The area is divided into four living zones, and a comprehensive and systematic master plan covering the entire region has also been established.

In particular, Seongsu-dong creates emotional spaces using retro-style lighting and bricks, and new constructions are arranged in a street-conforming manner to harmonize with the urban landscape. Outdoor advertisements are installed using various materials such as natural materials and metals to complement the red bricks, and cultural facilities are expanded by regenerating unused old buildings into the ‘Seongsu-dong Laboratory,’ providing diverse experiences for people. The plan aims to maximize the unique cultural characteristics of Seongsu-dong, where the landscape features of red brick buildings blend with various creative activities of the younger generation.

For the urban design promotion plan, which is established every five years, the district conducted a ‘resident participatory research’ that investigated local issues and public design satisfaction types. By identifying various needs of residents regarding public design, the district plans to enhance the completeness of Seongdong public design through the derived directions, vision, and strategies of co-design.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “Public design was once limited to improving visual design, but recently it has expanded public value by creating safe living environments, enhancing the overall quality of the city, and establishing sustainable and pleasant urban spaces, while also solidifying local identity. Through this public design promotion plan, we will not only create safe, convenient, and beautiful everyday spaces for residents but also achieve harmonious and balanced regional development.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.