Public Architecture Design Competition Methods to Be Diversified... National Architecture Policy Commission Holds Policy Improvement Forum

[Financial News]  The government will discuss ways to diversify design competition methods and expand the role of private-sector experts to improve the quality of public buildings.
The National Architecture Policy Commission announced on the 29th that it would hold a forum on improving the design competition and private-sector expert systems. The event will bring together the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), local governments, associations and organizations in the architectural industry, and experts to discuss how the systems should evolve.
Jeon Young-hoon, a member of the National Architecture Policy Commission and a professor at Chung-Ang University (CAU), will present the proposed direction for improving the design competition system. The proposal will seek to diversify competition types so that participants can choose a method suited to a project's scale, nature and selection objectives. This would reduce wasteful competition and the burden of participating in competitions resulting from the system's longstanding focus on open competitions regardless of project characteristics. The forum will also address cases in which detailed design proposals are required despite the intent of proposal-based competitions, insufficient architectural planning, and the need to ensure expertise and transparency in the evaluation process.
Kang In-ho, head of the public architecture division of the National Architecture Policy Commission's advisory panel and an emeritus professor at Hannam University, will present the proposed direction for improving the private-sector expert system. The commission is considering creating a new "project public architect" position in addition to the existing general and public architects. These experts would provide advice and coordination throughout each public architecture project to maintain consistency in planning. The proposal also calls for expanding public architects' activities in connection with local urban, spatial and architectural policies, as well as strengthening the institutional foundation through improved guidelines.
After the presentations, a discussion will be held with Kim Jin-ae as moderator, Lee Jin-cheol, MOLIT's director general for architectural policy, and associations and organizations representing the architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture fields. Representatives of relevant associations and organizations, along with local government officials, will attend. Experts unable to participate in person may join via videoconference. The forum will be livestreamed on the National Architecture Policy Commission's YouTube channel.
Based on the opinions expressed at the forum, the government plans to flesh out detailed measures to improve the design competition and private-sector expert systems. It aims to establish an institutional foundation that will enhance the quality and public value of public architecture and enable experts to fully apply their capabilities.
Kim Jin-ae, chairperson of the National Architecture Policy Commission, said, "Rather than applying the same design competition method to every public architecture project, it should be possible to choose a method suited to the project's characteristics and purpose. Private-sector experts, too, need to expand their role beyond advising on individual projects and take on a professional role in participating in regional urban and spatial policies," adding, "Through this forum, we will seek effective ways to improve the system based on diverse opinions from the field."

[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter