This study examines how publicness is realized throughout the planning, design, and operational phases of public architecture through threeexemplary projects in Seoul. A phase-based framework consisting of intentionality, management, physical configur...
This study examines how publicness is realized throughout the planning, design, and operational phases of public architecture through threeexemplary projects in Seoul. A phase-based framework consisting of intentionality, management, physical configuration, and civility wasapplied through content analysis of design competition guidelines, visual assessments, and non-participant observations of 44 users. Thefindings indicate that comprehensive pre-planning established publicness through the consideration of intended users, purposes, operationalstrategies, accessibility, participation, and social interaction. However, when these dimensions were not sufficiently integrated, gaps emergedbetween planning intentions, spatial implementation, and actual use. Although all cases demonstrated strong physical publicness during thedesign phase, remodeling constraints and limited program accessibility influenced user experiences. Publicness did not develop through a linearaccumulation across project phases. Instead, it was continuously shaped through stakeholder negotiations, design modifications, and theongoing involvement of architects, operators, and users. Therefore, publicness should be understood as a processual outcome generated throughthe continuous interaction among publicness dimensions, project actors, and development phases. The study suggests that improvingphase-based delivery systems can strengthen continuity among stakeholders and support the integration of publicness throughout the projectprocess.