Daejeon City, South Korea – Daejeon City is embarking on a project to create eco-friendly wooden structures within the Hanbat Arboretum, a green sanctuary in the heart of the city.
The city announced today the launch of an international design competition for the planned "Wooden Observatory and Wooden Bridge" within Hanbat Arboretum, commencing on June 10th. This competition aims to elevate the standard of public architecture design in Daejeon and marks the first step towards creating a landmark wooden structure that embodies the city's commitment to sustainable carbon neutrality.
The project site is located within Hanbat Arboretum and along the Gapcheon River, a prominent green space that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. The plan involves physically connecting the arboretum, which is divided into East and West sections, while simultaneously introducing a symbolic vertical structure that offers expansive views, thereby providing citizens with a new spatial experience.
The competition seeks designs for a "wooden observatory" over 25 meters tall and a "wooden bridge," both offering three-dimensional views of the Gapcheon River and arboretum landscape. Participants are required to submit proposals that comprehensively demonstrate environmental friendliness, artistic merit, feasibility, and public accessibility.
A key evaluation criterion for this competition will be the inclusion of universal design principles for the disabled and elderly, as well as plans for night use and safety, prioritizing citizen convenience. Furthermore, the use of domestically sourced timber will be encouraged to promote the domestic timber industry and achieve carbon reduction effects.
Competition Schedule and Details
The competition schedule is as follows:
Participant Registration: June 10th (Mon) ~ June 18th (Tue) until 5:00 PM.
Submission of Proposals: July 16th (Tue) ~ July 18th (Thu) until 4:59 PM.
All procedures will be conducted online through the official Daejeon City Planning Design Competition website (https://www.daejeon.go.kr/pdc).
The judging will be carried out by a panel of experts in architecture and public design, who will comprehensively evaluate the design's creativity, feasibility, and eco-friendliness. A total of five teams will be selected, granting them eligibility to participate in a subsequent nominated design competition, with the final winning team awarded the design rights for the project.
The winning design is slated to be incorporated into the detailed design phase in the first half of 2026, with construction targeted for 2027. Daejeon City also plans to develop this space into a popular urban attraction for citizens and tourists, including considerations for nightscape planning.
A Vision for Public Architecture
Park Jun-yong, Head of Daejeon City's Premium Design Division, stated, "This competition will serve as a model for public architecture that harmonizes nature, people, and the city. We anticipate creative proposals and significant interest from talented domestic and international experts."
For more details, please visit the official Daejeon City Planning Design Competition website or contact the Premium Design Division (☎042-270-0711).
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