'Linear' Design Awarded Grand Prize for Concise Aesthetics and Modular Expandability

Daejeon Metropolitan City has unveiled innovative designs that will infuse creativity and practicality into the stations of its planned Metro Line 2.

On the morning of April 9th, a ceremony was held at 10:00 AM in the reception room on the 10th floor of City Hall to award the winners of the ‘Daejeon Metro Line 2 Station Design Competition’. The event celebrated the outstanding designs selected to shape the future of the city's public transportation infrastructure. Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo, Head of the Judging Committee Lee Jin-sook, and approximately ten award recipients were present, underscoring the significance of the occasion.

The design competition, initiated in August of the previous year, aimed to transform the Metro Line 2 from a mere mode of transport into symbolic spaces that reflect the city’s identity and future vision. Open to design and architecture professionals and students, the competition garnered enthusiastic participation from across the nation, with a plethora of creative ideas submitted.

The prestigious grand prize was awarded to ‘Linear’ by Oh Jae-hwan and Lim Na-ri. Their design garnered high praise for its ability to interpret the diverse colors of Daejeon, a city that burgeoned as a modern urban center, through a flexible design with adaptable materials. The judges particularly lauded how the design effectively reflected the urban context of Daejeon as a planned city. Furthermore, the concise aesthetic appeal and the modular expandability, allowing for seamless application in both the old and new urban areas, were recognized as significant strengths for practical implementation in the actual station designs.

The first prize was jointly awarded to ‘Land Glider’ submitted by Urban Ark Architects and Ieum Partners. This design received commendation for its seamless integration into the urban fabric and its highly refined details, demonstrating a sophisticated approach to urban aesthetics.

The second prize was awarded to ‘D.C.S.S’ by Lee Joo-ho and ‘Garam Station’ by Park Kyung-ho, Lee Won-young, and Han Ye-eun. ‘D.C.S.S’ creatively incorporated the image of Daejeon as a leading science city through media blocks and citizen-participatory events, showcasing an innovative blend of technology and public engagement. ‘Garam Station’ was praised for its simple yet robust structural beauty, emphasizing functionality with an elegant form.

In addition to the top prizes, four entries received honorable mentions: ‘House of Contextual Scenery’ by Kim Sang-hyup, ‘Rhythm of Triangles’ by Kim Young-il, ‘Interlink Waft’ by Kim Yu-na and Yoo Seo-young, and ‘Daejeon Tram’ by Yoon Jung-hwan, Jung Yu-ri, and Park Joo-eun. These designs also demonstrated noteworthy creativity and potential for contributing to the aesthetic landscape of Daejeon’s Metro Line 2.

The competition unfolded in a rigorous two-stage evaluation process. Following the establishment of the organizing committee in August of the previous year, the initial call for submissions yielded 71 entries. Of these, 18 designs successfully passed the first round of scrutiny. In the subsequent second stage, a panel of seven experts from various design and architectural fields meticulously reviewed the top eight entries, comprehensively assessing their creativity, feasibility, and overall suitability for implementation. The final selection of the winning designs reflected a careful balance between innovative concepts and practical considerations for the future metro stations.

The complete list of the final award-winning designs is available on the Daejeon Metropolitan City Public Design Competition website, providing the public with an opportunity to view the creative visions that will shape their future commuting experience.

Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo stated, “It is my sincere hope that through this competition, the Metro Line 2 will be transformed from a mere means of transportation into beautiful and practical spaces that will instill a sense of pride in our citizens.” He further affirmed the city’s commitment to ensuring that the winning designs are faithfully reflected in the actual station designs, emphasizing the importance of translating creative concepts into tangible and functional public infrastructure.