Proves excellence by winning the Outstanding Award, the top honor in the Cultural and Urban Landscape category
Transforming an outdoor landscape space into a healing space for citizens
Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction Group has won the Outstanding Award, the top honor in the Cultural and Urban Landscape category, at the 2023 IFLA APR (Asia Pacific Region) Awards hosted by the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA).
The winning entry is the Nature Gallery, the outdoor landscape space of the Raemian Gallery (the Raemian brand experience center) located in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Founded in 1948, the International Federation of Landscape Architects is the representative body of landscape architects worldwide, currently comprising 77 member countries, and the IFLA Awards carry the highest authority in the field of landscape architecture. This year, a total of 433 works were submitted across 10 categories, including the Cultural and Urban Landscape category, for the International Federation of Landscape Architects Awards.
The Raemian Nature Gallery was selected as the Grand Prize winner after earning high marks on the International Federation of Landscape Architects Awards' key judging criteria — design value, environmental friendliness, and sustainability — for turning a space that had been cut off from its surroundings into a sustainable habitat for living organisms while also creating a public garden for citizens.
The Raemian Nature Gallery sought to realize sustainable landscaping under the motif of "nature as it is." It recreated the appearance of a real forest through methods such as △the use of native species like Korean red pine and Korean hornbeam and △natural planting techniques. In addition, an ecological pond home to aquatic plants was created, allowing rainwater to be regulated during heavy downpours. As a result, it has become a space where diverse plants and animals grow and the ecosystem can sustain itself over time.
Furthermore, it serves a public role for city dwellers. Connectivity with the surrounding area was strengthened through △the removal of elements that block circulation and sightlines and △pathways that link to the adjacent park, while elements such as △rest facilities including benches and dining tables and △lighting designed with the nighttime landscape in mind have made it a community where residents can relax comfortably regardless of the season.
▲ The Raemian Nature Gallery, with mist adding to the charming scenery of the forest and pond.