Submissions open for buildings, gardens, plazas, signage and more across the district — entries accepted from Oct. 20 through Nov. 19
Yangcheon-gu will accept submissions for its Yangcheon-gu Architecture and Space Design Award from Tuesday through Nov. 19, seeking to identify outstanding designs realized in the district's buildings and public spaces.
Launched for the first time this year, the competition aims to discover and recognize creative, high-quality examples of architectural, spatial and visual design, promote the spread of excellent design across the district, and foster a more pleasant and attractive urban environment.
Eligible entries must have been completed and installed in Yangcheon-gu before the announcement date. The competition covers three categories: buildings and other structures; spatial planning encompassing publicly accessible open spaces, interior and exterior spaces, gardens, landscaping and plazas; and visual design including signage, wayfinding systems, posters, information systems and lighting. Applications may be submitted directly by the lead designer or design planner of the work, or nominated by a third party — an individual or organization — with a connection to the design field.
The submission window runs from Tuesday to 6 p.m. on Nov. 19. Applicants must submit an application form, a project description and supporting photographs, either in person, by post or by email to the Architecture Division of Yangcheon-gu Office.
A dedicated judging committee will evaluate entries on creativity and originality, completeness and aesthetic quality, functionality and ease of use, and harmony with the surrounding environment. Following a first-round document review and a second-round on-site assessment, the committee will select approximately four winners across private and public categories, including a grand prize and excellence awards. Final results will be announced in January 2027.
Winners will receive a citation and a commemorative plaque. They will also be given priority consideration for appointment to the Yangcheon-gu Architecture Committee and the Public Design Promotion Committee, broadening their opportunities to contribute to the district's public architecture and design initiatives going forward.
Meanwhile, Yangcheon-gu has already earned recognition for its spatial design capabilities. The district earlier redeveloped Omok Park into a multipurpose cultural space centered on a square colonnade that organically integrates leisure, arts and ecology — an effort that earned it the grand prize (presidential award) at the Korea Public Design Awards, the Korea Landscape Architecture Society Award at the Korea Land Grand Prize, and the grand prize at the Seoul Metropolitan Government Landscape Architecture Awards.
Through this competition, the district aims to deepen residents' attention to and appreciation of design in everyday life — from buildings to spatial and visual design — while strengthening the district's design competitiveness and continuously raising the quality of the urban landscape.
"I hope this competition becomes an opportunity to rediscover the outstanding designs realized throughout our district and to shine a light on creative endeavors," Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Ki-jae said. "We will continue to do our best to elevate the character of our city and create a pleasant urban environment that residents can feel in their daily lives."
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