Seoul Launches Design Competition for Sejong Center Rooftop Garden...To Open to Public After Completion

Observation Deck Open to the Public for the First Time in Nearly 50 Years
Elevator Installation for Scenic Views and Improved Accessibility for All

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts exterior. Seoul City

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on October 22 that it will hold a design competition for the creation of a rooftop garden at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, with submissions accepted until November 24.

Since its opening in 1978, the rooftop of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts has not been open to the public. However, through this competition, the rooftop will be transformed into a leisure space and made accessible to the general public.

The 1,725-square-meter rooftop space will be reborn as an open area that any citizen can freely use. With 'open access' and 'urban views' as its core concepts, the space will feature observation areas overlooking the city center, rest facilities, landscaping, and food and beverage amenities. An elevator providing direct access to the rooftop will be installed to enhance accessibility.

The city will begin accepting design competition entries on this day. To help participants better understand the project, an on-site briefing will be held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on October 24. Design competition participants are required to attend the briefing and inspect the site. Details such as the physical conditions and requirements of the site will be provided, and further information, including application procedures, will be announced on the city's design competition website.

The city plans to select a design that respects the value of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, harmonizes with the surrounding landscape, and is both innovative and feasible. The winning design will be chosen in December this year, with construction set to begin in the first half of next year and the opening targeted for the second half of the year.

Lim Changsu, Director of Future Space Planning at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "The rooftop of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will become a representative public leisure space in the city, where landscape, culture, and relaxation come together, far beyond a simple observation area. We hope to select a design that harmonizes with the Sejong Center, contributes to the surrounding landscape, and encourages more citizens to stay longer and want to return."

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