[10 Years of Design Competitions, 30 Public Architecture Selections] Peace Culture Bunker

SPACE November 2023 (No. 672) 

10 years have passed since the design competition system was overhauled as a consequence of the Act On The Promotion Of Building Service Industry. As multiple adjustments and corrections have been made over time to the operation of design competitions, the system has given birth to numerous selections that populate our surroundings today. If these winning designs, which were born out of the creative struggles of individual designers in their respective times and places under the aegis of ‘good public architecture’, were to be assembled in a single space, what would stand out? SPACE have selected 30 distinguished examples of public architecture that have been recognised by the architectural scene over the past 10 years. We compared images of the winning designs and their results, and interviewed the architects. Our selection criteria was primarily based on being honoured with selection, but we also wanted to offer as diverse an outlook as possible according to type and year of competition, ordering institution, and use or function, to offer a wide spectrum of examples. When it came to public residences, we decided not to feature them in this article as they are a unique breed in terms of scale and programme. By reviewing all stages, from planning, examination, selection, and the post-construction phases, and after hearing from those responsible for them about the obstacles that they faced on their journey towards good public architecture, we hope that the testimonies of these people who witnessed the various aspects of the design competition system will give us a sense of continued direction as to where we should be heading in the next 10 years. 

©CoRe Architects 

©Hwang Hyochel

Q1: From the design competition to construction, what was the main task when it came to the completion of your project? In which areas do you think your project did well, and what made this possible?

A1: Peace Culture Bunker was about preserving an old and disused military protective wall to protect historical records for future generations while also using the surrounding environment of parks and mountains by introducing a new creative space. A project can change completely depending on its attitude towards the old and the new. Our intention was to avoid destroying, rebuilding, or erasing the past and to save things that are meaningful while ensuring that the new additions feel close to and intimate with the original context. The project was favourably reviewed for preserving the anti-tank protective facility and thereby capturing the notion of a protective wall, for setting up an inner courtyard that links the protective wall with the creative cultural space at the front of the structure, and for creating a natural connection between the deck floor and the first-floor courtyard.

Q2: What suggestions would you make to improve the way design competitions are conducted in Korea?​ 

A2: We think that we are in need of a change at this present time, when all public architecture of a certain scale and above is the hands of design competitions in line with the turnkey contract and pre-qualification system. While design competitions can serve as stepping stones for architects who are just starting out, it is also highly costly not only for the individual architect offices but also for the entire nation as a whole. When hundreds of participants flock towards a project, we cannot help but wonder how other architect offices aside from the one that is selected will remain sustainable. We think that a commonly agreeable standard should be established to consider various solutions such as restricting repeated annual participation in invited competitions and general design competitions.

2015 invited design competition​

​Architect  

CoRe Architects (U Zongxoo, Kim Vin)

Location  

932, Madeul-ro, Dobong-gu, Seoul

Programme  

neighbourhood living facility, national defense and military facility

Gross floor area  

1,809.25m²

Design cost  

budget –  97.13 million KRW / actual cost – 94.21 million KRW

Construction cost  

budget –  2.49 billion KRW / actual cost – 2.838 billion KRW

Competition year  

Aug. 2015

Completion year  

Sep. 2017

Client  

Dobong-gu Office

Prize  

Kim Swoo Geun Preview Awards (2016), Seoul Architecture Awards (2018), Korean Architecture Award (2018), Public Architecture Awards of Korea (2018)​