Incheon Free Economic Zone 'Curtain Wall' Building Differs from Renderings... Strengthening Landscape Management

The landscape management of 'curtain wall' (a construction method that finishes the exterior wall surface with glass) buildings within the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) will be strengthened. The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority announced on the 20th that it will institutionalize landscape consultations before the construction of curtain wall buildings.

Accordingly, starting from the end of this month, for curtain wall buildings receiving building permits, construction companies must conduct on-site sample tests of exterior materials (glass, back panels, and paint colors) before ordering, obtain confirmation from the building designer, and then consult with the IFEZ Urban Design Team regarding the landscape. The consultation applies to buildings that have passed the landscape review within IFEZ, and compliance with the landscape consultation will be a condition for building permits.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority has also revised the 'IFEZ Landscape Review Manual' to ensure that architectural images such as bird's-eye views are expressed realistically without distortion during the landscape review of curtain wall buildings, and has been implementing this since last month.

Songdo International City Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority headquarters view [Photo by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

This policy by the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority comes because the color of the interior (back panel) visible through the glass surface in curtain wall construction has been arbitrarily decided, causing significant differences between the building design approved in the landscape review and the constructed building image, leading to continuous improvement requests from residents.

Recently, in Songdo International City, disputes between prospective residents and construction companies have frequently occurred over the need for reconstruction because the actual appearance of curtain wall buildings under exterior construction differs from the bird's-eye views shown at the time of sale. According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, when the finish color of the floor and column parts between floors visible through the glass surface is white, horizontal or vertical lines that were not visible in the bird's-eye view at the time of sale become prominent, making the design appear different.

The curtain wall method finishes the exterior wall surface of buildings with glass, enabling sophisticated and beautiful exterior designs, and is widely used in futuristic architectural designs. Many buildings in IFEZ, including office and residential complex facilities, have applied the curtain wall method, and the 'curtain wall look buildings,' a construction method where glass is overlaid on concrete walls, are spreading mainly in apartment complexes, increasing the proportion of glass-finished buildings.

An official from the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority said, "Since exterior construction is carried out after material orders have already been completed, making changes afterward can cause secondary problems such as cost losses and delays in completion," adding, "To properly implement the design intent of curtain wall buildings decided through landscape review, careful consideration is needed in deciding the color and finishing method of the back panels visible through the glass surface."

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