City Hall Complex, Cheongju, KR

2020 Open Competition 

In collaboration with Kohnle Lee Architekten and Leonore Nemec 

Images: www.thepanoptikon.com




The city of Cheongju, South Korea, launched an international design competition for a new 55,000 sqm City Hall complex aimed at revitalizing its civic infrastructure and original downtown as a vibrant urban attraction.
This proposal reimagines Cheongju’s civic centre as a layered public landscape that reflects both institutional presence and community openness. The project is anchored by a large concrete "Table" structure—reinterpreted as a monumental pedestal—elevating a lush park above the street level while housing civic and cultural functions below. This architectural gesture connects the City Hall, City Council, and Municipal Art Gallery, unifying them as accessible, democratic spaces.

A restored historical building at the site’s centre becomes a museum and public venue, bridging Cheongju’s past and future. The new City Hall is a cylindrical tower—symbolic and visible from afar—while the transparent, low-slung City Council emphasizes horizontality and public democratic engagement.

The concept of urban vitality and urban nature oasis forms a dual system integrating circulation, public life, and sustainability. Strategic vehicle and pedestrian flows ensure accessibility, while the park offers vital green space for humans and wildlife in a dense urban core. The proposal positions Cheongju as a future-forward, green-friendly urban environment rooted in civic pride and community use.