Seoul officials unveiled a redesigned district office and garage featuring the ‘Seoul City Expressway Design,’ securing the iF Design Award in the 2026 product and public design category on April 5.
Prestigious Global Recognition
The iF Design Award ranks among the world’s top three honors, alongside the Red Dot and IDEA awards. Seoul previously dominated Korea’s iF wins, claiming the most over five years since launching the ‘Hongje Yuyeon’ public cultural space in 2021.
Garage Expansion and Safety Focus
Seoul’s garages reached a base of 1,276 units by 2024—the highest since 2009. After 16 years, renewed attention drives safety enhancements and planned expansions.
Recent updates prioritize accident prevention in high-traffic garages. Designs expand residential zones, widen front entrances by about 2 meters, and install indoor tables and chairs. Stainless steel handrails now line stairs and ramps for better accessibility.
Proven Public Facility Colors
Stainless steel railings strengthen grip safety. Officials reinstated the ‘Kiwa Jinhyuk Color’ scheme for public sites, building on past successes.
Implementation and Future Plans
In the last two months, Seoul directed 39 district offices and 31 garages—totaling 70 sites—for upgrades. Officials plan to select 60 more, expanding to 130 locations overall.
Seoul Safety Director stated, “This iF Design Award reaffirms K-public design’s international excellence.” The director added, “Safety-focused facility standards create citizen-centered environments, reigniting global and domestic pride.”
