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Enjoy a leisurely garden city on a hammock and net chair at Ttukseom 'haneulhaneul'!
- A hammock-style resting area made with net material will make its debut at the Seoul International Garden Show 2024 for the autumn season. - Modular fun designs, allowing citizens to experience them in their daily lives, will be implemented at Ttukseom Hangang Park until October 31st. - With flexible facilities that can be installed in various locations, it is expected that people can fully enjoy the leisurely autumn atmosphere in the garden. - The city will continue to develop and expand fun designs so that more citizens and tourists can experience them. -
“Let’s enjoy a hassle-free picnic”Seoul City Creates Inclusive Picnic Space at Ichon Hangang Park
- Creation of a family-friendly waterfront leisure space for various activities such as rest, play, and cultural enjoyment. - Implementation of universal design with rounded edges on facilities to ensure safety for children and other users. - Improvement of access roads and widening to facilitate access for people with disabilities, including wheelchair and stroller users. - Development of the nation's first universal design guidebook for waterfront spaces, featuring image-based guidelines for entrances, passageways, and other areas. - The city is working to expand universal design in waterfront spaces so that citizens can enjoy "everyday fun." -
Seoul Metropolitan Government Unveils New Brand Identity (BI) for 'Design City Seoul’
- New four-color BI symbolizes Seoul's landscape (exterior, Han River), as well as "companionship" and "charm - Developed to improve the status of 'Design City Seoul' and align with global standards - Utilization of UNESCO Creative Cities Network logo, design business promotional items and souvenirs, etc. - Seoul Metropolitan Government will "effectively communicate its identity as a design city and raise its international profile" -
Citizen paintings transformed into moving media art, Gwanghwamun Square Hatchyard Media Wall exhibition
- Media art created through citizen participation is on display from 7.1.(Mon), 08~22 daily. - 18 flat images selected from the citizen contest are being presented in a film with motion graphics technology. - Following the spring exhibition, there will be a wealth of ‘Hatch and Soul Friends’ content and citizen participation events for the summer. -
How about running after work? The Runner’s Station opens at Yeouinaru Station, the holy land for runners
- On the 21st (Tue), the opening of ‘Subway Station Innovation Project – Fun Station No.1’ - Utilizing spaces of two floors of the station, around 60 storage lockers, changing rooms, power rooms, and experience zones will be created - Operating various experiential programs such as stretching, posture correction digital coaching , and running course ranking boards - Starting this year with stations like Jayang, Ttukseom, and Sindang, plans are underway to add 10 more Fun Stations including City Hall and Munjeong Stations next year -
Save the Whale in the Plastic Cup! Campaign in Cheonggyecheon for Earth Day
- Ahead of Earth Day, the “Goodbye Plastic Seoul” campaign will be held around Cheonggyecheon from Friday, the 19th. - Installations such as the “Whale Spewing Plastic” augmented reality (AR), fountains, and whale sculptures will be set to evoke empathy and encourage participation. - The city hopes that this campaign will increase the number of citizens participating in reducing plastic usage in their daily lives. -
Running Festival Opens at Yeouido Park on the 20th (Sat) ... Yeouido Conquiered on Two Feet and Two Wheels
- On April 20th (Sat), the first “Seoul Runners Festival” held at Yeouido Hangang Park... with over 3,000 participants. - Events such as the donation challenge ‘8K Open Run’, running fair, running talk show, etc., were held...Next month, ‘Runners Station’ will opne, - The opening of ‘Yeouido Roller Rink’ under Mapo Bridge, providing a safe and free space for cycling, wheelchairs, etc. - The city aims not only to provide spaces for leisure sports but also to create a ‘healthy city’ through various programs. -
Seoul transforms 'Runner Station' construction site into MZ Holin's 'attraction fence'
- Works by popular MZ generation artists on display from 3.29~4.14 at the construction site inside Yeouinaru Station - Construction site fence as a FUN space instead of a disconnecting space...Opportunity for emerging artists to participate in public design - Seoul, "Attraction fence that provides daily 'fun' to citizens... Expected to be utilized as an exotic photo spot" -
Urban, Design, and the Spread of Shared Values
Design is emerging as a crucial element in addressing the various challenges faced by modern cities. While design in the past primarily focused on products or visual aspects, contemporary urban design now deals with the architecture, transportation, environment, social issues, public facilities, and spaces of cities from a holistic perspective. This shift has significantly broadened the scope of design, positioning urban design as a central player in enhancing the functionality of cities and the quality of life for their citizens. As urban design evolves, the approaches to improving urban environments are diversifying. Examples such as Copenhagen's bicycle-friendly urban planning and Singapore's ecological urban development illustrate how urban design plays a vital role in boosting the health, convenience, and sustainability of cities. These cases powerfully demonstrate how urban design can contribute to creating healthy urban living environments. However, many issues still need to be addressed, including the design of urban and public spaces, sustainability, social inclusion, digitalization, and policy aspects. -
Seoul City's "Yes! Kids Zone!" has won a prestigious global design award
- 'Adolescents Obesity Problem Solution Design' wins prestigious award from US-based DMI (Design Management Institute) in 2023 - First Domestic award for a 'Public Institution'... Design encourages voluntary activities with exploration concepts from five countries - The city vows to continue expanding lifestyle design to support healthy and stable life across all stages of life. -
2023 Seoul Design International Forum for Urban Design for Humans - Humanising Cities: Humans • Design • Cities
At first glance, I thought the topic of the forum was very ironic. Why this topic? When 'humanizing' is interpreted, it means 'a city from a human/human perspective', and the fact that it reminds us of this proposition, which was taken for granted, can also be interpreted as showing that there have been shortcomings and regrets in becoming a 'human-centered city'. am. In that respect, the 2023 Seoul Design International Forum, held at the multipurpose hall on the 8th floor of the main building of Seoul City Hall on September 14, was meaningful in reaffirming the value standards and basic discourse for urban design. This event, which was held simultaneously online and offline, consisted of lectures by seven speakers over five hours, and talks in which all speakers participated. This year, Thomas Heatherwick, founder of Heatherwick Studio, Shigeru Ban, a famous disaster architect, and architect Mijin Yoon, dean of Cornell University and co-representative of Höweler+Yoon Architecture, who has worked on many public design projects, participated. Domestic speakers included Choi So-hyun, head of Naver's design and marketing division, Maum Studio CEO Lee Dal-woo, and Unique Good Company co-CEO Song In-hyuk. -
Thomas Heatherwick: Capturing Emotions
“Emotions are a very important element that makes architecture meaningful. The emotions embedded in architecture lift people’s spirits and form a connection between people. The emotional impact of architecture on us is enormous – Thomas Heather Wick." “Thomas Heatherwick” is considered to be one of the most notable and genius designers among contemporary British designers, to the point where he is nicknamed ‘Britain’s Da Vinci.’ As one of the world's most prolific designers, he has created 'Heather Wick'-like works that combine his unrivaled genius and passionate humanity through his diverse work over the past 20 years. Thomas Heatherwick founded “Heatherwick Studio” in 1994 to create more creative work that crosses all boundaries, including urban planning, architecture, interior design, and product design. Headquartered in King's Cross, London, we employ around 200 architects, designers, craftsmen and technicians. -
Architect in action, Shigeru Ban: The power of space and architecture
Can designers help humanity? I've had this thought before. If the Earth enters a post-apocalyptic era (like the destruction of the Earth or the end of humanity, which appears quite often in movies), only a small group of people who are essential for the survival of humanity can take shelter, cab architects or space designers should join that group? This is also a light question about whether architects or space designers are doing the work necessary for our society and humanity. Of course, my personal opinion is that they should join the group. First of all, it would be difficult to create a shelter without an architect or space expert. Otherwise, wouldn't the place become a crucible of chaos? The subtitle of the book <Paper Architecture in Action> (2019, Minumsa publishing) written by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is ‘What can architects do for society?’ From the public's point of view, rather than from the fields of architecture, space, or design, architecture is a tangible entity that creates the landscape of a city. Most people recognize architecture as a landmark, a base, or something that symbolizes something. The lifespan of architecture is also quite long, or more accurately, it should be long, so the experience of architecture is difficult to be fragmented or specific. -
A city that everyone wants to visit and live in - Design Seoul 2.0
It is quite interesting that the English word ‘space’, which means ‘universe’, also means space. For a long time, philosophers have also interpreted the universe as one of ‘space.’ If the place commonly referred to as ‘space’ is not limited to places with physical walls or boundaries such as houses, schools, offices, and cafes, then ‘cities’ can also be seen as the space in which we live. In that respect, urban design is close to spatial design in a broad sense. Because we all live within the city, setting boundaries and stepping on the land. The appearance of various parts of the city is also the appearance of our space and the way we live. -
Design of a sensory healing counseling space that helps mental health recovery
# “It was the best counseling room I’ve ever seen, and I think the counseling will go well.” # “It feels like I am in a hotel VIP room and receiving special treatment.” -Reviews from clients who received counseling at ‘Mind Garden’- # “Counseling is conducted with a welcoming spirit toward the client, which increases self-esteem and self-efficacy as a counselor.” -Review from a counselor who provided counseling at ‘Mind Garden’- -
Seoul Metropolitan Government creates the “Yard for Centenarians” at welfare service centers and parks near homes for daily prevention of dementia
- Development of a spacial design for physical, emotional and social activities of senior citizens to prepare for prolonged pandemic and super-aged society - Applied to Songpa Senior Welfare Service Center for the first time, 200㎡ scale construction…Mayor Oh Se-hoon will visit the site on the 13th - Exercise equipment to strengthen muscles for performing daily activities, emotional healing area, e.g., gardening and exhibition, social exchange area, e.g., stage and games - An “age-friendly environment,” where people can gain access and live long and healthy in their living areas…Four additional yards by next March -
Public Design and Platform Media Facade of Communication
Platform media facade of communication in the city New platform is now required for a city image that incorporates the storytelling based on the regional/historical identity as the need to improve the aged downtown (original downtown) is being emphasized. Therefore, there are more municipal governments that desire to re-brand various parts of cities that are aiming towards the fourth industrial cities for citizens and visitors who come to cities. Cities are scrambling to develop the public design system and to transform into future cities. Panaplex-type bus shelters are being installed as DID (Digital Infotainment Display) that enable mobile-linked interactive functions, and the city maps are being implemented in various parts of the cities as AI information that is guided by idols, along with experiential AR/VR media. Although it may be partial, ecosystem evolution that uses media that aims for comprehensive media in key hub cities is transforming cities in line with the hyper-connected era through activities such as pilot operation of unmanned vehicles. -
Public design for people, cooperative public design
Design has always evolved as a meaningful means to achieve an objective or a part that is required in the society. Currently, active efforts are being made to resolve the issues of economy, environment and safety through design. In the recent times where we are transcending the era of industrialization to usher in the era of sustainability, design that improves the competitive industrial products is beginning to contribute to our society as design that improves public values as a part of the strategy to resolve problems from the perspective that design is changing in line with the demand of the society. ‘Public design’ is playing a leading role at the center, and from now on, 'design' will resolve a considerable number of issues that our society will face, and it will be making various contributions as a cultural pillar of life.