Color design capturing Seonjeongneung's history and ecology wins Korea Design Organizations Federation chairman's prize; public restroom safety design earns Blue Award
Seoul's Gangnam-gu took two top prizes at the 24th Korea Color Design Awards.
Two projects earned the honors: one that used color design to express the history and ecology of Seonjeongneung, and another that applied crime-prevention and inclusive design to public restrooms.
Gangnam-gu said it received the Korea Design Organizations Federation chairman's award for the "Seonjeongneung Heritage Experience Design" project and the Blue Award for the "Public Restroom Safety Design Project."
Hosted by the Korean Society of Color Studies, the Korea Color Design Awards is the country's only awards program dedicated to color design, recognizing outstanding cases that contribute to the advancement of color culture and the vitality of the design industry.
The chairman's award-winning Seonjeongneung Heritage Experience Design project blended the history and nature of the UNESCO World Heritage site into the modern urban landscape. Gangnam-gu drew on the site's architecture, ecology and historical narratives to develop a distinctive color palette, which was applied throughout the surrounding spaces.
A notable feature was the project's extension of the color design into a multisensory content experience — combining scent and sound — allowing residents and visitors to engage more deeply with the site's historical and cultural assets in their daily lives.
The Blue Award-winning Public Restroom Safety Design Project targeted facilities at Dosan Park and Segokcheon Mulmaji Park. Applying Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles, the project transformed dark, aging restrooms into bright, safe spaces.
White-toned color schemes improved brightness and visibility, while nighttime lighting was installed to make entrances and surrounding areas easier to navigate. The project was recognized for reducing users' sense of unease and creating an environment that anyone can use comfortably.
Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-gi said the double win showed the district's public design policy earning recognition beyond its borders. "We will continue to elevate the quality of our city through public design that reflects Gangnam's unique character, while also keeping residents safe," Kim said.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
