Urban Park Design Informed by Urban Microclimate - A Case Study of the International Design Competition for the Yeongdeungpo-gu Government Office Complex -

This study examines landscape design strategies and methodological implications that respond to changing urban microclimates, through a case study of the award-winning proposal for the Yeongdeungpo-gu Integrated Government Office Complex in Seoul. Recognizing that the environmental characteristics of small-to-medium-sized neighborhood parks are shaped by their interaction with the surrounding environment, this research aims to analyze the physical impact of the new office complex on the microclimate of the adjacent park and pedestrian zones while proposing an integrated design framework that utilizes these microclimatic factors as active drivers for spatial organization. The design and research process was conducted as follows: Initially, from a macroscopic perspective, the environmental attributes required for the site as an urban green space were analyzed. The primary environmental axes for park spatial organization were established by simulating seasonal solar access, shadow trajectories, and wind patterns resulting from the introduction of the new office complex. Subsequently, based on these simulations, microclimate-based spatial zones ranging from intense solar exposure to permanent shade were derived. These zones were then integrated with the urban context and the new building to formulate a comprehensive framework for microclimate-informed park spaces. Finally, specific spatial and planting strategies were developed for each designated zone by combining planting canopy systems with ground surface strategies for thermal and permeability control to optimize outdoor thermal comfort. Additionally, urban park programs were organized to align with the microclimatic characteristics of each area, thereby defining both the usage patterns and spatial atmosphere. The study also examined how the interconnection of individual spaces allows the entire park to function as a unified spatial system that achieves integrated microclimatic performance. The significance of this design research lies in presenting an integrated design process that links environmental simulation results with the design decision-making process to derive detailed plans for spatial organization, planting, and paving. This study reconceptualizes the urban microclimate not as a constraint, but as a primary design factor that structures spatial form, user comfort, and experiential diversity. While the study is limited by its focus on an unbuilt design proposal—precluding empirical verification of its environmental performance—it demonstrates the potential of a microclimate-informed design approach that utilizes environmental conditions created by architectural masses. This methodology is expected to serve as an effective design model for sustainable urban park design and urban spatial reconfiguration in the era of the climate crisis.