For this purpose, five teams were invited to the international design competition held in 2023. OMA’s proposal was selected as the winning entry, and subsequently, Junglim Architecture was chosen as the lead architectural office through a competition for domestic design partnership. Junglim Architecture will oversee design and supervision, and through a partnership with Hongik University and OMA, spatially realize the “New Hongik” campus in an international context, coexisting with the distinctive culture of Hongdae streets. The project aims to break down the physical boundaries between the university and the city, serve as an impetus for campus regeneration, and redefine the university’s role of contributing not only to its members but also to visitors and the local community.

The proposal, called the “Breathing Complex,” creates various types of streets and spaces within the complex, naturally linking urban contexts such as Sagajeong Market, Myeonmok-dong Library, multiple schools, and Yongmasan Mountain. The north-south pedestrian pathways connect old walking trails and hiking routes, while the northeast school route, integrated with ancillary facilities, seamlessly connects daily life with the complex. The complex’s long axis aligns parallel to the existing urban axis, while its short axis guides active attraction of urban activities with the view axis, circulation systems, and main building placement. In planning residential buildings, consideration was given to low-rise areas incorporating community spaces, pilotis ensuring pedestrian comfort, multipurpose program spaces utilizing core spaces, and outdoor spaces with open views to surrounding greenery. Embracing the hilly terrain, the deck-type parking lot and open underground facilities create a multi-layered three-dimensional space.