Urban Strategy: Sangmu District Green Corridor & Gwangju River
The strategic location of proposed site is an urban and green landscape mix. The existing Gwangju river suggested a design proposal that includes natural environment and urban action: The creation of a Green Corridor that connects all the existing uses in Sangmu District (e.g. Gwangju City Hall, Liberty Park and Sangmu Cultural Park Zone, commercial facilities and the residential areas among others) through the river revitalizing its course and flow.
In the north boundary the Green Corridor enhances the existing vegetation in the empty areas where there is no edification. This plot will have new outdoor entertaining areas that discourse with the building of the new City Main Library Gwangju.
How are the libraries’ services used nowadays?
At present digital era it is necessary to reconsider the concept of “library” and propose a space that adapts to nowadays needs of users. Far from the idea of a book container, a library that works as a public space of cultural entertainment and offers a combination of different technologies has been proposed. Furthermore, the programme included on the project for the New City Library Gwangju required the installation of a gymnasium as an integral part of the building. This new feature has made us rethink some of the library concepts and technical solutions.
How should be the spatiality of the building?
To ensure the functionality of this large “cultural spatial container”, the connections and integration between the different services must be taken to its maximum. The proposal chosen unifies most of the required services instead of dividing and isolate them in independent areas. To do so, it has been necessary to connect all services visually and acoustically, respecting the different acoustic needs for each area thus facilitating the choice of the user’s cultural experience during their journey through the building.
Prior to the analysis for the arrangement of services, it is has been very important to define a spatial strategy. Overlapping volumes with the same shape would not facilitate the desired connections. Therefore, the combination and superposition of different geometric shapes, which always maintain a physical connection in one of its sides, has been arranged. These volumes are disposed around a large central space that all shared. The second strategy has been the configuration of the facade of the building. This facade is generated by connecting each of the inner volumes from upper to lower level, generating double height with visual connections on all floors. A detailed study of the acoustic needs of each of the spaces has been carried out for creating a unified open space. Meeting rooms, study areas and staff offices where silence is required are the only areas isolated from the rest.
The book archiving area is located in the basement and has a direct connection through a forklift for the exclusive use of the staff. The forklift gives access to all levels of the building to ensure an easy distribution of materials and consultation of documents. The rest of the circulation cores are for public use and can be of restricted access when needed to allow for different activities or security purposes.
Team:
Author: Nazareth Gutiérrez Franco
Colaboradores: Ricardo Roda Alba.
Consultant:
Acoustic: RSK Group (Antonio Sánchez Parejo, Francis Goodall, Matthew Thomson). Structure: Leandro Morillas Romero