Yeongdeungpo District Selects “Public Horizon” as Winning Entry for Integrated New Government Building

20-Story Building Design Contract to Begin Next Month
Envisioning an Open Administrative Space Shared with Residents
Gunwon, HaeMA, and ANU Design Group Consortium

Yeongdeungpo District in Seoul (District Mayor Choi Hogwon) announced on October 31 that the consortium of Gunwon Architects, HaeMA, and ANU Design Group has been selected as the final winner of the “Integrated New Government Building International Design Competition” with their entry “Public Horizon.” The winner will be granted the exclusive negotiation rights for the design contract of the integrated new government building.

A total of 32 teams from 50 domestic and international design firms registered for the competition, with 25 firms submitting 12 entries, demonstrating high interest. The jury, consisting of seven experts including professors and architects in the field of architecture, conducted two rounds of evaluation to ensure fairness and transparency. The second round was broadcast live on YouTube. Through this process, one winning entry and four runner-up entries were selected.

The winning entry, “Public Horizon,” aims to create an open public office building that residents can freely use in their daily lives. It received praise for its resident-centered spatial design, including the “Yeongdeungpo Study” (a book cafe) connected to the subway, as well as cultural and relaxation spaces, and efficient circulation routes for visitors.

Additionally, the design reflects the urban characteristics of Yeongdeungpo as a transportation hub where residential, business, industrial, and cultural elements converge, planning for a future-oriented building that harmonizes with the surrounding environment. The new government building is intended to serve as a new hub connecting the city and nature, daily life and administration, and as an open space where residents and the local government coexist.

Furthermore, the building will be equipped with disaster and emergency response facilities, and will include convenience facilities for residents such as a daycare center, learning spaces, and program rooms, creating spaces for interaction and learning. A smart work environment utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) and relaxation lounges will also be introduced to enhance administrative efficiency and resident satisfaction.

Details of the winning and runner-up entries can be found on the “Yeongdeungpo District Integrated New Government Building International Design Competition” website. The district plans to hold a resident briefing session in December this year to present the winning entry and gather feedback from residents.

Yeongdeungpo District will implement the project using a “phased development” approach to minimize inconvenience to residents, reduce temporary office rental costs, and protect nearby commercial areas. A new government building, comprising both the district office and council, will be constructed on part of the Dangsan Neighborhood Park site in front of the current office, with five underground and twenty above-ground floors (total floor area: 58,817.45 square meters). A new public health center (one underground and eleven above-ground floors) will be built on the current Parking and Culture Division site. Once the new government building is completed, the existing office site will be redeveloped as a park.

The current Yeongdeungpo District Office, completed in 1976, is an aging structure and is the last among Seoul’s autonomous districts to pursue construction of a new office building. According to a resident survey, 71% of respondents agreed on the need for a new government building, citing the separation of the main and annex buildings, aging facilities, and a shortage of parking spaces.

Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, stated, “The new building will not simply be a structure, but an open space where residents and the local government breathe together,” adding, “We will complete the new government building in collaboration with the residents.”