SPACE August 2026 (No. 705)
Winning proposal of Design Competition for the Implementation Design of Gwanaksan Recreation Forest (Architectural) ©STUDIO 531B
On June 30, Seoul Metropolitan Government announced STUDIO 531B (Co-Principals, Oh Seungyoung, Hwang Kisoo) as the winner of the Design Competition for the Gwanaksan Recreation Forest. To respond to the growing demand for forest recreation, the competition involved devising a two-storey accommodation facility and a visitors’ centre with a total floor area of 1,605m² on an 11,993m² site. This will potentially serve as the first showcase of the natural recreation forest in southern Seoul.
According to STUDIO 531B, the design focuses on ‘proposing an accommodation typology that draws upon and optimises the immersive experience of the natural recreation forest, grounded in a careful reading of the exceptional landscape and complex topography’. Specifically, the proposal leaves the steep slopes and gorges largely untouched, while accommodation units are placed in clusters of two or three buildings on both sides of these natural features. This strategy not only secures generous distances between the buildings but also reduces the possibility of disturbance to the existing terrain and vegetation.
The jury commended the proposal for developing a compact and sustainable accommodation typology based on a careful analysis of the site conditions, including topography, vegetation, and microclimate. In particular they praised the layout of the guest rooms, each of which frames a unique view of the surrounding landscape.
STUDIO 531B believes that the proposal was positively received because of two key strategies: deriving architectural typologies from the topography and maintaining the flexibility to respond to the various challenges that may arise during implementation. Construction of the Gwanaksan Natural Recreation Forest is scheduled to begin in Nov. 2026, with completion expected in Nov. 2027.
