Seoul Architecture Award Grand Prize, Magok 'LG Art Center & Discovery Lab'

by Sung Kiho

Published 03 Aug.2023 07:33(KST)

Gansam Architects Kim Taejip and Ando Tadao Design

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 3rd that the grand prize of the '41st Seoul Architecture Awards' was awarded to 'LG Art Center Seoul and LG Discovery Lab Seoul' (Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu).

Seoul Architecture Award Grand Prize, Magok 'LG Art Center & Discovery Lab'

The grand prize-winning project, designed by Kim Tae-jip (Gansam Architects & Associates) and Tadao Ando (Tadao Ando Architect & Associates), is a building planned as a public contribution during the development of the Magok R&D complex in Gangseo-gu.

It received the grand prize honor for its outstanding completeness in planning, programming, and construction, as well as for creating a high-quality cultural facility and architectural work that all Seoul citizens can enjoy.

The excellence awards went to 'Nowon Desk' (Nohae-ro 437, Nowon-gu), a complex cultural space in the lobby of Nowon District Office in the public sector, and 'Comfort Seoul' (60-gil, Duteopbawi-ro, Yongsan-gu) in the private sector.

Nowon Desk (designed by Cho Yoon-hee (Gubo Architects) and Hong Ji-hak (Chungnam National University)) is a complex cultural space born from the remodeling of the Nowon District Office lobby. It prioritized visitor accessibility and behavior, transforming the previously stiff and dull district office lobby into a friendly space like a living room, presenting new possibilities for public spaces.

Comfort Seoul (designed by Moon Ju-ho (Boundaryless Workshop Architects)) was praised for its innovative design connecting a 15-meter height difference between Duteopbawi-gil and Sowol-gil in Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, through a small-scale neighborhood living facility, creating a stepped architectural structure.

The excellence awards in the public sector were given to ▲ Mountain Culture Experience Center (Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu) ▲ Seoul Museum of Craft Art (Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu) ▲ Ecological Matrix: Web of Life (Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu) ▲ BUNKER Daebang Youth Culture House (Daebang-dong, Dongjak-gu), and in the private sector to ▲ Thinking Factory (Dangsan-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu) ▲ Exem Magok Research Center (Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu).

A total of 106 entries (26 public, 80 private) were submitted for this year's Seoul Architecture Awards, and after document and on-site evaluations, nine winning works were selected.

Winners (designers) receive commendations from the Mayor of Seoul, and building owners are awarded commemorative plaques that can be attached to the buildings. The awards ceremony will be held on September 1st alongside the opening ceremony of the '15th Seoul Architecture Festival,' and the winning works will be exhibited at the Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall during the festival period until October 29th.

In a citizen vote conducted for the winning works, the Mountain Culture Experience Center (2,124 votes) and Exem Magok Research Center (2,048 votes) received the 'Citizen Sympathy Special Award' separately due to their great popularity.