The exterior of Otierre Banpo, which won a Red Dot Award for its Han River wave-inspired facade integrated with color BIPV solar panels. [Posco E&C] The exterior of Otierre Banpo, which won a Red Dot Award for its Han River wave-inspired facade integrated with color BIPV solar panels. [Posco E&C]

Posco E&C announced Monday that its high-end apartment project Otierre Banpo has won awards at two international design competitions, recognized for combining eco-friendly technology with inclusive spatial design.

Otierre Banpo took home four main prizes across the Red Dot Design Award 2026 and the K-Design Award 2026.

Demand for energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and accessibility for vulnerable groups has been growing in urban residential developments. “This recognition goes beyond simply creating a beautiful exterior — it is meaningful because the design contributes to residents’ convenience and cost savings,” a Posco E&C official said.

The project’s exterior design, called “The Peak Wave,” draws inspiration from the Han River’s flowing currents, realizing a dynamic skyline through a curved roofline and curtain-wall facade. A portion of the building’s outer walls incorporates a facade-integrated photovoltaic system (GTS BIPV) as exterior cladding, achieving both design aesthetics and energy production at once.

The system is a building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) setup in which solar cell modules replace conventional finishing materials on the building’s surface to generate electricity.

Power generated by the solar system is used in the apartment complex’s common areas, improving overall energy efficiency. The proactive adoption of the technology — a first among privately developed apartment complexes — helped the project earn a Zero Energy Building (ZEB) Grade 5 certification. As a result, residents benefit from reduced electricity bills in common areas, and the reconstruction association qualifies for a 15 percent exemption on original acquisition tax, demonstrating the tangible economic impact of the design. The exterior design won awards in Red Dot’s sustainable design category and at the K-Design Award.

Otierre’s signage system, “The Flow,” is a wayfinding design conceived so that residents of all ages and abilities can navigate the complex with ease. Information is positioned along natural movement paths and at eye level for different users, ensuring that children and elderly residents can find their way without difficulty. The system won in Red Dot’s inclusive design category.

The community space “Confluence,” which also won a K-Design Award, is a multisensory immersive design that weaves together sound, scent and natural elements around the flow of space. It integrates AI-curated personalized music, a signature Otierre fragrance, and natural elements such as daylighting and indoor landscaping into a single cohesive experience — catering not only to visual enjoyment but to all five senses.

Meanwhile, Posco E&C has accumulated 27 wins at domestic and international design competitions over the past three years, including the Red Dot, Good Design and Korea Landscape Architecture awards, sustaining its design competitiveness.

“Apartment design must go beyond premium aesthetics to address real residential challenges such as energy savings and improved spatial accessibility,” the Posco E&C official said. “We will continue to expand designs that enhance residents’ quality of life and coexist harmoniously with the urban environment.”

hss@heraldcorp.com

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.