Jinju-si Launches Development of Site for Dongbu Municipal Library... Establishing Cultural Infrastructure in the Eastern Region

Final Design Selected Through International Competition

Bird's-eye view of the winning design for the Dongbu Municipal Library in the international design competition.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Jinju City in Gyeongnam has begun site development for the Dongbu Municipal Library as a project to improve residential conditions in the eastern area.

The Dongbu Municipal Library will be constructed with a total project cost of 17 billion KRW on a 7,970㎡ site within Jangjae Park in Chojun-dong, featuring a total area of 4,400㎡, with one basement floor and three above-ground floors.

Main facilities will include reading rooms, an English library, a shared childcare space, a community care center, and convenience facilities, creating a complex living SOC space.

The city received 193 submissions from 5 countries through an international design competition last year and selected the final design amid fierce competition.

The winning design was a collaboration between a domestic architect and a Spanish architect. The concept of "Library as a Journey" was well expressed in the architectural plan, earning high praise from the judges.

The stepped architectural design, inspired by the layout of Muryangsujeon Hall at Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju, was evaluated as a modern interpretation of tradition.

Once completed, the Dongbu Municipal Library is expected to satisfy citizens' reading needs and serve as a place for rest and communication through books within the urban park. Completion and opening are scheduled for December 2023.

A city official stated, "Construction of the library building is planned to begin in August, after the site development work is completed," adding, "The design was carried out to preserve the current terrain as much as possible, but due to the mountainous terrain conditions, blasting and excavation are inevitable."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.