The Seoul city government said on the 5th that at an international design competition jury held on the 4th at the multipurpose hall of Seoul City Hall, attended by about 400 citizens and experts, it selected the design by "Designcamp Moonpark DMP" as the final winner for the construction of the second Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
The second Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, a core project of the "Great Hangang Project," will be created as a complex cultural facility north of Yeouido Park, including a large theater (1,800 seats), a medium theater (800 seats), an exhibition hall (5,670㎡), and a public observatory, with a total floor area of 66,000㎡.
The city will sign a design contract with the winner within the year, carry out the basic and working designs for about 14 months, and break ground in Dec. next year. It set a target for completion in Dec. 2029.
From the design competition guidelines, the city required plans for an outdoor stage and a large screen so anyone could visit without buying a ticket and enjoy performances. An open rooftop observatory will allow visitors to take in views of the Hangang and Seoul.
The winning design places the two theaters vertically, facing the Hangang and Yeouido Park, respectively. The open lobbies are designed to face different directions.
The plan makes the ground level along Yeouidaero into a plaza so citizens can move comfortably between Yeouido Park and the Hangang. At the outdoor performance venue, anyone can watch large theater performances on a stage-sized screen.
The jury said, "By proposing open spaces oriented toward the Hangang, Yeouido Park, and Yeouidaero, it carefully interpreted the urban context," adding, "As a new cultural landmark for Yeouido, it will blend harmoniously with the city."
Nine people took part in the judging: Choi Moon-gyu (Yonsei University professor, jury chair), Koo Ja-hoon (Hanyang University professor), Shim Hee-jun (head of Architecture Workshop), Jeon Suk-hee (head of Wise Architecture), Jeon Yoo-chang (Ajou University professor), Choi Jong-hee (Paichai University professor), Ahn Ho-sang (president of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts), Park Jeong-hwan (Hongik University professor, alternate), and Lee Tae-seop (T Space director, alternate).
The city will hold an awards ceremony at 10 a.m. on the 10th at the Sejong Lounge on the first floor of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and will exhibit five works, including the winning entry, through the 16th.