Duguru, a Seoul-based specialist known for blending plants with interior design, is gearing up for global expansion by bringing Korean-style landscaping into commercial spaces across Singapore.
The company said Wednesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with OCS Singapore, the local operation of global integrated facility management provider OCS Group, for indoor landscaping projects in the city-state.
Under the agreement, Duguru will develop hybrid landscaping that combines live and artificial greenery, install smart interior systems and pursue projects tied to Singapore’s green building standards.
A showroom presenting its Korean-style landscaping will open at the OCS headquarters building in September, accompanied by pilot projects by the end of this year.
The Korean company has also signed an MoU with HOL SG, a Singapore firm that fuses storytelling with digital technology in space design, to develop creative space projects such as interactive gardens, museum renovations and eco-themed experience spaces aligned with Singapore’s smart city goals.
Duguru expects the two agreements will give it a springboard for its global expansion with its specialty in the so-called planterior design – integrating plants into indoor spaces.
Duguru Chief Executive Kim Jong-hyun said Singapore’s wealth, its “City in Nature” policy and strong demand for green interiors make the country the right place to launch the Korean landscaping company’s overseas expansion.
“Using Singapore as an Asian hub, we will deliver ESG-based spatial value,” he said.
Founded in Korea, Duguru is one of the popular names at home in the so-called planterior design, with projects spanning retail, offices and public institutions.
With a local subsidiary already set up in Singapore, the Korean company now sees the city-state as a base for expansion into Southeast Asia and beyond, tapping into a broader regional push for sustainable and technology-driven urban spaces.
By Sookyung Seo
skseo@hankyung.com
Jennifer Nicholson-Breen edited this article.
