SPACE May 2025 (No. 690)
Hongneung Startup Lab Design Competition ©atelier o
Seoul Metropolitan Government is planning to discover and foster pre-startup entrepreneurs and businesses in the bio and medical field through the Hongneung Startup Lab Design project. A total of 37 entries were submitted to the design competition held this Jan., and on Apr. 10 the Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH) announced the winning proposal by atelier o (principal, Kang Jiho) as the first prize awardee. The winning design was praised for its thoughtful interpretation of the surrounding urban context. It integrates two masses into a cohesive building while allowing pathways and green space to penetrate. The proposal demonstrated a high level of refinement in its use of walls and columns within a divided mass layout. Its glass façade opens toward the pedestrian alleyway, while a rest garden is placed on the side facing the protected woodland area, effectively securing a sense of publicness despite the site’s spatial constraints. SH aims to start the construction on 2026, with completion scheduled for Apr. 2027.
