Incheon Free Economic Zone Implements Landscape Guidelines to Encourage Creative Apartment Designs

by Park Haesook

Published 21 Apr.2026 15:29(KST)

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority announced on April 21 that it will implement "Landscape Guidelines" to encourage the application of creative, specialized designs to apartment complexes.

Apartment complexes, which account for about 60% of buildings within the Incheon Free Economic Zone, significantly influence the city's skyline and streetscape through the scale and form of residential buildings and their facade designs. As a result, there have been continuous demands from citizens for landscape management.

In response, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority has improved the previous comprehensive and superficial landscape guidelines by establishing a three-tiered landscape management standard consisting of "mandatory guidelines" that must be reflected, "recommended guidelines" to enhance design completeness, and "specialized design recognition criteria" to encourage creative designs.

Incheon Free Economic Zone Landscape Guidelines. Provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority

When constructing apartment complexes, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority will restrict the length of residential buildings to ensure openness and require a variety of building forms. In addition, to create variations in the skyline, height differences between residential buildings must be maintained. The use of metal railings and white window frames (sashes) will be prohibited.

To promote creative architectural design, standards have also been established for the application of specialized balconies and the introduction of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

The newly established guidelines apply not only to apartment complexes under the Housing Act, but also to residential officetels and mixed-use buildings. When submitting landscaping for review, project developers must complete and submit a checklist and undergo an evaluation to confirm compliance with the mandatory guidelines and the suitability of specialized design plans.

Yoon Baekjin, Acting Commissioner (Deputy Commissioner) of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, stated, "With the implementation of the apartment landscape guidelines, we expect to see a greater expansion of creative apartment designs," adding, "We will continue to promote improvements in landscape management and systems that citizens can truly experience."