Wisdom brings nature, culture and community together
Urban regeneration starts with a real understanding of neighborhood. When new life is breathed into a marginalized place, the original birthplace of the area – the source from which a neighborhood begins to grow – can once again become a center for restoring social solidarity. Through the “Hannae Forest of Wisdom”, a small community facility, the culture of the NoWon area will be able to flower once more.
The site of this community facility is located near the entrance to a neighborhood park, built on the side of Jungrang-cheon stream. The fountain on this site remained broken for a long time, and the fragmentation of the local residents, and the condition of the park, was getting worse. Despite the high density of the residential area, there was no communal, cultural space for the inhabitants and their children. Hannae Forest of Wisdom was proposed as a solution – to act as a vehicle which combines local culture with the nature-park, and so to revive and revitalize the abandoned site.
The building consists of several triangular frames, a metaphorical representation of the landscape around the site where mountains, forests, and trees overlap as a backdrop to the city center. These frames are linked together into a larger structure: they are not intended to sit in isolation, but act as a framework for communication. The symbolism is one of sympathy: bringing children and adults, nature and culture together.
The interior is as unique as the outside; both arouse the visitors’ curiosity. The basic unit of space is a bookshelf which acts as an interior wall. Whereas, typically, walls only divide space, bookshelves incorporate space. In other words, the bookshelf-wall is a dual structural element where integration and division coexist.
The interior space is full of natural light which shines through multiple side windows. Visitors cross a light-filled, maze-like, interior, which despite being small (less than 100m²) overcomes the limitations of scale to develop into an integrated and welcoming space.
The Hannae Forest of Wisdom will be a place to be enjoyed by local residents and stimulate children’s imaginations.
Project: Hannae Forest of Wisdom / Location: 86, Madeul-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea / Architect: Unsangdong Architects / Client: Nowon-Gu / Site area: 14,382m² / Bldg. area: 359.37m² / Gross floor area: 359.37m² / Bldg. scale: one story above ground / Structure: RC / Completion: 2027 / Photograph: ©Sergio Pirrone (courtesy of the architect)
