Seoul
首尔

Design Brings Urban Innovation and Upgrading
设计带来城市创新与升级

Abstract

Seoul has transformed from an industrial city into a global creative center driven by design. Recognized as a UNESCO 'Design Capital' and World Design Capital (WDC) in 2010, the city has adopted a 'design + culture' strategy that integrates public space renewal, green space expansion, and climate-adaptive planning into its urban framework. Iconic projects such as the Cheonggyecheon ecological restoration—where an elevated highway was replaced by a natural riverbed—exemplify its commitment to enhancing quality of life.

The rise of Seoul's design industry began with a systematic policy framework in the early 21st century. Launched in 2002, the ‘Seoul Design Project' was the first to embed design into the city's development strategy, followed by the establishment of the Design Industry Promotion Committee in 2005. After being named a ‘Design Capital’ in 2010, Seoul restructured its infrastructure with a 'universal design' approach, optimizing public transportation and enhancing accessibility for all citizens. In 2013, the opening of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)—a repurposed sports complex—marked a major milestone. This landmark, which combines art exhibitions, creative workshops, and digital technology, hosts over 200 events annually and attracts millions of visitors while boosting the local economy.

Flagship projects further embody Seoul’s design ethos. The DDP, with its streamlined titanium alloy exterior and digital media facade, has redefined a city landmark, while its in-house 'design laboratory' supports startups as part of a '24-hour creative ecosystem'. Since 2008, Seoul Design Week has celebrated themes from industrial design to sustainable architecture, and its 2020 virtual reality exhibitions attracted designers from 85 countries. The Hangang Ecological Renovation Project has integrated green space and climate resilience by creating an 11-kilometer ecological promenade and 32 wetland parks, supported by smart flood monitoring systems that enhance riverside greenery and reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, the Seoul City Design Awards promote replicable models such as the 2024 'Rooftop Farm Project', which converts idle rooftops into community agricultural spaces.

At its core, Seoul prioritizes urban regeneration and sustainable planning. Through policies like 'Seoul Vision 2030', the city has maintained leadership in expanding green spaces, optimizing public transport, and implementing low-carbon technologies—becoming Asia's first megacity with a carbon-neutral public transportation system. Blending historical heritage with modern creativity, Seoul is using design as its language to script a new paradigm for global urban transformation.

摘要

首尔是韩国首都及最大城市，位于汉江流域与朝鲜半岛中部，历经战后重建与金融危机后，成功从工业化城市转型为以设计驱动的全球创意中心。作为 2010 年联合国教科文组织“设计之都”及世界设计之都（WDC），首尔通过“设计 + 文化”战略推动城市可持续发展，将公共空间改造、绿色空间拓展与气候适应性规划融入城市发展框架 36。其城市规划以提升生活质量为核心，例如清溪川生态修复项目将高架桥拆除并恢复自然河道，打造兼具历史记忆与生态功能的公共空间，成为全球城市再生的典范。

首尔的设计产业崛起始于 21 世纪初的系统化政策布局。2002 年启动的“首尔设计计划”首次将设计纳入城市发展战略，2005 年成立设计产业振兴委员会推动设计与城市建设的深度融合 610。2010 年获评“设计之都”后，首尔以“通用设计”理念重构城市基础设施，例如优化公共交通系统、推广无障碍设施，使市民共享安全便捷的环境 36。2013 年，东大门设计广场（DDP）开幕，这一由废弃运动场改造的复合空间集艺术展览、创意工坊与数字技术于一体，成为全球最大 3D 非标准建筑，年均举办 200 余场活动，吸引超千万游客，带动周边经济增值 30%69。至 2020 年，首尔设计产业已覆盖建筑、时尚、数字交互等领域，其国际设计竞争力在首尔设计周等平台推动下持续提升，年均创造产值超 50 亿美元。

特色项目是首尔设计理念的实践载体。东大门设计广场（DDP）以流线型钛合金外壳与数字媒体立面重塑城市地标，内部设置“设计实验室”支持初创企业，成为全球首个以“24小时创意生态系统”为定位的文化枢纽。首尔设计周自 2008 年起每年举办，涵盖工业设计、可持续建筑等主题，2020 年首次引入虚拟现实展览，吸引 85 国设计师参与，促成跨国合作项目超 200 项。汉江生态改造项目则整合绿色空间与气候韧性设计，沿江建设 11 公里生态步道、32 个湿地公园，并利用智能监测系统应对洪水风险，使汉江沿岸绿化覆盖率提升至47%，每年减少碳排放 1.2 万吨 610。此外，首尔城市设计奖通过评选全球创新案例，推动可复制设计模式，如 2024 年获奖的“屋顶农场计划”将闲置屋顶转化为社区农业空间，实现粮食自给与碳汇双赢。

首尔以城市再生与可持续规划为核心，将设计嵌入应对气候变化的实践中。通过《首尔愿景 2030》等政策，其在绿色空间拓展、公共交通优化与低碳技术应用方面持续领先，成为亚洲首个实现“碳中和公共交通系统”的超大城市 610。这座融合历史底蕴与现代创意的都市，正以设计为语言，书写全球城市转型的新范式。