'White Flag Raised' Apgujeong 3 District to Rehire Designer According to Seoul City's Plan

Announcement of International Design Competition on the 21st... On-site Briefing on the 6th of Next Month
Preliminary Review Introduced... Compliance with Competition Guidelines to be Examined

The Apgujeong 3 District, known as the representative reconstruction project in Gangnam, has ultimately surrendered to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and launched a controversial re-tender for the architect. Earlier, when the union selected a design plan that conflicted with urban planning regulations such as floor area ratio, Seoul City declared "this tender is invalid" and warned, "If you do not re-select, we will request an investigation." In response, the union, concerned about delays in reconstruction, decided to re-select the architect.

Apgujeong Hyundai Apartment. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

According to the maintenance industry on the 28th, the Apgujeong Apartment District Special Planning Zone 3 District Reconstruction Union announced an international design competition on the 21st. To this end, a site briefing session will be held at the union office on the 6th of next month. Applications will be accepted from the 6th to the 11th, and bidding will close on November 6. The design review will take place on November 9. The outstanding designs will be announced on December 9, and the final winner will be decided at the union general meeting among the top designs.

In this competition, the union added a preliminary review process before the design evaluation. A preliminary review committee (bidder qualification review committee) composed of external experts such as architects and professors will be formed to examine compliance with the design competition guidelines and the Rapid Integrated Planning. The union explained, "The preliminary review committee will operate so that any significant defects can be reflected in the evaluation."

The reason for the re-tender of the architect for Apgujeong 3 District is that Seoul City deemed the first tender held in July invalid. Seoul City viewed the design plan by Heerim Architects, selected by the union, as deviating from the city's urban planning. At that time, Heerim Architects proposed a floor area ratio of 360%, higher than the 300% allowed by Seoul City, and a reconstruction plan without rental housing. Just before the union members' vote, Heerim Architects submitted a revised plan lowering the floor area ratio to 300%, but Seoul City stated, "If you do not re-tender the architect, we will request an investigation."

Ultimately, the union surrendered. Reconstruction cannot proceed smoothly while in conflict with the licensing authority, Seoul City.

An official from the maintenance industry said, "With the confirmation of the Apgujeong Rapid Integrated Planning in July, reconstruction gained momentum, but as conflicts with Seoul City, the licensing authority, intensified due to the architect controversy, the union members' opinion for re-tendering grew out of concern that reconstruction would be delayed."

Meanwhile, Heerim Architects, whose selection was canceled, is also expected to participate again in this re-tender.

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