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Newly Unified 2026 Busan Architecture Awards Announce Winners, Including Gold Prize Winner Lotti Forest!

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it has selected the winners of the 2026 Busan Architecture Awards following the final jury meeting held on August 31, after integrating architecture awards that had previously been operated separately in the Busan region.

Busan Metropolitan City held the 2026 Busan Architecture Awards competition from April through July to identify outstanding buildings that embody the identity and values of Busan as a maritime city connecting the world. A total of 51 entries were submitted.

In particular, this year marked the first time that Busan Metropolitan City’s existing Busan-style Architecture Awards and the Busan Chapter of the Korean Institute of Architects’ Busan Architecture Awards were jointly operated as a unified program. A jury consisting of architectural experts from architecture-related academic societies and associations in Busan evaluated both awards for architectural works and awards for architects, including Architect of the Year and Emerging Architect.

Seven works were selected through preliminary judging and then underwent rigorous evaluation through on-site and final judging. After extensive deliberation, the jury concluded that none of the entries met the standard expected of a Grand Prize winner and therefore decided not to award the Grand Prize. Instead, one Gold Prize and two Silver Prizes were selected in the architectural work category. One recipient each was also selected for the Architect of the Year Award and the Emerging Architect Award.

The Gold Prize was awarded to Lotti Forest in Dongnae-gu, while the Silver Prizes went to Layered Monolith in Jung-gu and Mangmi Culture Share Center in Suyeong-gu.

Lotti Forest, the Gold Prize winner, is a neighborhood living facility located in the Oncheonjang area of Dongnae-gu. It reinterprets the traditional architectural form and spatial characteristics of the adjacent Dongnae Villa in a contemporary manner, proposing a space in which the existing architecture and the new building coexist.

The depth and shading function of traditional eaves were developed into a contemporary exterior envelope system to improve energy efficiency. The building was also designed to offer interior views of the existing villa, creating a mutually complementary relationship with Dongnae Villa rather than separating the two structures.

Jury Chair and Chief Architect Woo Shin-ku said, “Because commercial buildings are often subject to changes in appearance according to the needs of their owners, we are awarding the Gold Prize in the hope that its current form, harmoniously integrated with Dongnae Villa, will remain unchanged for many years to come.”

The building also ranked first in a public survey conducted on the Busan Metropolitan City website from August 7 to 28, receiving 27.63 percent of the vote.

Silver Prize winner Layered Monolith was highly regarded for providing a publicly considerate space for ordinary citizens within a congested urban environment. Mangmi Culture Share Center was recognized for maintaining careful attention to detail throughout the entire process from design to completion, despite the constraints involved in the major renovation and extension of an existing building.

Meanwhile, the jury designated the four works that had passed the preliminary judging but did not receive a main prize as selected works.

The recipients of the Architect of the Year Award and Emerging Architect Award, which recognize architects who have contributed to Busan’s architectural landscape, were selected from candidates nominated by the 2026 Busan Architecture Awards Architect Award Recommendation Committee and evaluated through final judging. Architects Kang Dae-hwa and Lee Ki-cheol were selected as the respective recipients.

Architect Kang Dae-hwa was recognized for his longstanding leadership in Busan’s architectural community. He obtained his architect qualification in 1990 and has served in positions including President of the Busan Chapter of the Korean Institute of Architects.

Architect Lee Ki-cheol has continued to participate in a wide range of architecture-related activities, including Busan Metropolitan City’s architectural talent donation projects, and was highly regarded for his pursuit of experimental architecture.

Major works by Kang Dae-hwa include the Haeundae Tax Office, Ami Global, 1+1 HOUSE, and Jageun Baegil Village House. Major works by Lee Ki-cheol include Wonderful Grandfather’s House, Two Triangle, and Miji.

Commemorative plaques will be installed at the award-winning buildings, and the awards are scheduled to be presented at the closing ceremony on October 31 of the 2026 Korea Architecture Culture Festival, which will be held at BEXCO from October 27 to 31.

The award-winning works will also be exhibited at BEXCO during the festival period.

Kim Hyo-sook, Director General of the Housing and Architecture Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “This year’s award-winning works demonstrate not only architectural excellence but also thoughtful consideration of spatial value and the urban context. We hope these outstanding buildings will blend harmoniously throughout Busan and contribute to enhancing the value of Busan as a balanced city where everyone can enjoy a high quality of life.”

She added, “We also hope that the two recipients of the Architect of the Year Award and Emerging Architect Award will continue to play a strong role in leading the development of Busan’s architectural culture.”