Heerim Architects & Planners has been selected as the designer for the A-17 integrated reconstruction project in the Pyeongchon New Town special maintenance district. It marks the first case in which a designer has been chosen for a first-generation new town reconstruction project since the enforcement of the Special Act on Aging Planned Cities.
Heerim Architects & Planners (Heerim) announced Wednesday that it had been selected as the designer for the project, which will integrate and rebuild four complexes, including Kkummaeul Kumho, Hanshin, Life and Hyundai, in Pyeongchon-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. The complexes, currently comprising 1,750 units, will be transformed through reconstruction into a development of up to 49 stories with 2,875 units. Hana Asset Trust is serving as the project operator.
Heerim participated in the bid through a consortium with Samha Architects, and was selected as the designer with 1,081 votes, or 78.6% of the vote, in the owners' ballot. As Heerim has been involved from the maintenance planning stage, subsequent procedures such as the selection of a construction company are expected to move quickly.
Heerim proposed a design that arranges all units facing south through a layout of at least 12 buildings, while maximizing views of Morak Mountain, Suri Mountain, Gwanak Mountain and Cheonggye Mountain. The plan also included three-sided open terrace layouts, an education and senior-focused community of about 2.5 pyeong per unit, an expanded parking lot of 2.0 spaces per unit, and a triple sky community offering 360-degree panoramic views.
This designer selection carries great symbolic significance as the first signal of first-generation new town reconstruction, which is gaining momentum following the enforcement of the Special Act on Aging Planned Cities. With designer selections set to follow in other pilot districts such as Bundang, Ilsan, Sanbon and Jungdong, analysts say the outcome will serve as a benchmark for subsequent bidding contests. Heerim has carried out major reconstruction designs including Apgujeong District 3, Banpo Mido 1, Hannam Heights and Daechi Eunma Apartments. More recently, it has strengthened its competitiveness in the redevelopment sector by consecutively winning contracts for Mokdong Complexes 1, 12 and 14 as well as Gwangmyeong Cheolsan Complex 13.
"As we have been selected as the first designer for this pilot district reconstruction project, preference for designers with a track record in redevelopment projects and permitting capabilities will grow in other pilot districts as well," a Heerim official said.
