You Won’t Believe This Is in Seoul, Haneulhaneul & Welcome Pavilion
Hello! I’m Lia, and I’ve just joined as a supporter for the 2025 Seoul Design International Forum!
Have you ever thought about how public design impacts our daily lives?
In fact, public design goes far beyond simply creating a visually pleasing city.
It plays a vital role in improving quality of life, strengthening community safety, and revitalizing local economies and culture.
Recently, I visited Boramae Park, where the City of Seoul is showcasing two new public design spaces,
the Welcome Pavilion and Haneulhaneul, designed to offer citizens a tangible experience of public design in action.
Boramae Park (33, Yeouidaebang-ro 20-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul)
A Nature-Inspired Landmark
As you enter Boramae Park, the first structure that catches your eye is the Welcome Pavilion. Debuting this year, this space functions as both a visual landmark and an information hub for citizen engagement.
Recognizing the lack of distinct symbolic structures, the City of Seoul planned this pavilion as part of its “Garden City Seoul” initiative. Rather than just being eye-catching, the pavilion is designed as a multi-purpose space where city and nature, policy and everyday life come together.
It features an open layout for easy access, with a canopy roof inspired by tree branches and leaves, transparent glass walls, and supporting columns. Walking between these structures feels like strolling through a forest. The space visually connects indoors and outdoors, emphasizing continuity. The layered canopy resembles overlapping leaves, creating shaded resting areas. Even the ground patterns are organically connected, giving the space a narrative-like feel.
Inside, the pavilion currently hosts a Seoul city exhibition themed “Haechi House,” allowing citizens to engage with and explore various policies. After the exhibition, the space will be used for small weddings, wellness programs, citizen and corporate workshops, exhibitions, and community gatherings.
With its nature-inspired design, the Welcome Pavilion embodies public design that brings “rest” and “communication” into the urban environment. By linking cities with gardens, and people with policies, it symbolizes the philosophy of “Design City Seoul.” Starting this year, Seoul plans to unveil new pavilion designs annually, gradually embedding this identity into citizens’ daily lives.
A Fun Resting Space
Follow the path past the Welcome Pavilion, and you’ll find Haneulhaneul, a hammock-like, interactive rest area where you can gaze up at the sky.
What makes this space stand out is its connection to the concept of “Seoul Fun Design.”
– What is Seoul Fun Design?
A design philosophy that brings discovery, cheerful interaction, and aesthetic joy to everyday life, making cities more vibrant and appealing.
Reflecting this philosophy, Haneulhaneul offers a floating mesh hammock that gently sways in the breeze, harmonizing with the natural surroundings.
The space is composed of 3-module, 2-module, and custom-shaped installations that provide both individual resting spots and the flexibility to expand into larger group spaces. A light canopy on top offers shade and allows for nighttime use without feeling too dark.
– From Ttukseom to Boramae
Originally a temporary installation at Ttukseom Hangang Park last year, Haneulhaneul received such positive feedback that the City of Seoul analyzed usage patterns and redesigned it to suit Boramae Park, enhancing its effectiveness as a tailored public design intervention.
Through the Welcome Pavilion and Haneulhaneul, I was able to experience how public design can go beyond aesthetics to change and enrich the way citizens interact with urban spaces.
Amidst these exciting changes, the upcoming 2025 Seoul Design International Forum, taking place on Friday, September 19, at Seoul City Hall’s Multipurpose Hall, promises to be a great opportunity to explore how Seoul’s public design will continue to connect and expand into our daily lives.
I hope many of you will join the forum and gain some great insights!
