(Photographer: tqtq Studio)
The Connected Boundaries
At the Geoyeo1-dong Community Center, welfare group consultation takes up a greater part of work than simple civil complaints, the desks are lowered to a level at which the civil servant and petitioners can communicate with each other at the same eye level. Installing the Connected Boundary distinguishes the workspace from the waiting space, but we enabled public officials and civil servants to exchange dialogue at the same eye level. As a result, the office space was partially covered, allowing the consultee and consulter to concentrate on the conversation.
Step Garden
The community center building of Geoyeo1-dong is more than 20 years old and is not well recognized as the residents’ center. It had a deck to be used as a rest area in front of the building, but was concealed behind a railing and could not be entered directly from the main road. Although small, this deck space had abandoned flowerbeds, a return box for borrowed books, flowerpots, and tables without any order. In order for it to be better recognized as a residents’ center, the vicinity of the main entrance was put in order and a building guide sign and lighting were installed. Also, we rearranged the deck space as a step garden by transforming making it a structure that is directly accessible from the main road. The abandoned garden space was reborn as a resting spot for residents. It is necessary to have a space to set a small bench though the road may be narrow or a simple place for neighbors to gather and chat while passing by. Rather than a space of visitors who come to register complaints, we hope that this place will be an open space that is returned to the residents as small public space of everyday life.