Gwangju City Renovates First Floor of City Hall into Multipurpose Open Cultural Space

Capturing the Nature of Gwangju: Mudeungsan, the Light of Gwangju, and the Yeongsangang River
A Space for Relaxation, Citizen Communication, and Cultural Exchange

Gwangju City has renovated the east side of the first floor of the government building into a "multipurpose open cultural space" that tells the story of Gwangju's nature, including Mudeungsan Mountain, the light of Gwangju, and the Yeongsangang River. It will open to the public starting April 1. Photo by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on the 31st that it has renovated the left (east) part of the first floor of the city hall into a 'multipurpose open cultural space' with a story, capturing the nature of Gwangju such as Mudeungsan, the Light of Gwangju, and the Yeongsangang River, and will open it to citizens starting April 1.

Gwangju City is pursuing the 'Open City Hall Creation Project' to efficiently utilize the space vacated by the abolition of the duty system?first implemented among special and metropolitan cities?by embracing the 'philosophy of emptiness and openness' and creating a space for exchange and communication with citizens.

Following the first-phase project, which created an open, caf?-style convenience space for citizens, the city is currently carrying out the second-phase project, which reorganizes the space previously occupied by tenants into an open cultural space. This open cultural space is a multipurpose area of 330 square meters with 200 variable seats, located to the right of the first-floor entrance of city hall.

The space is characterized by large floor-to-ceiling windows on the front and side, maximizing openness. The design incorporates motifs representing the nature of Gwangju, such as Mudeungsan and the Yeongsangang River, creating a modern and emotional atmosphere. The art wall, inspired by the ridgeline of Mudeungsan as seen from city hall, reinterprets the mountain's gentle curves with a contemporary design and indirect lighting, adding a warm and inviting feel to the space.

At the center, a large lighting fixture symbolizing Gwangju's identity as the 'City of Light' and representing the Milky Way has been installed, enhancing the sophistication of the space. Additionally, a unique, movable table inspired by the flow of the Yeongsangang River has been placed, providing a resting area for citizens in daily use and allowing for flexible use of the space during events by moving the tables.

The two existing entrances have been combined and expanded into a single entrance to unify movement flow and increase the effectiveness of the city administration's promotional LED display, while the expanded windows further maximize the sense of openness.

On the pillar wall in front of the first-floor information desk, a media art waterfall measuring 11.5 meters in height and 2 meters in diameter will be installed and is scheduled to begin operation in early May.

The city plans to utilize this newly created multipurpose open cultural space to host a variety of cultural events, including citizen-participation events, exhibitions of works by local artists and citizens, book concerts, and busking performances.

Starting with the 'Library Culture Festival' on April 5, the city will set seasonal and issue-based themes for events such as the 'Citizen's Day' in May, and, in collaboration with public institutions, cultural organizations, and civic groups, will present a wide range of programs to citizens.

Lee Subin, head of the Accounting Department, said, "The open cultural space is a meaningful project that goes beyond simple spatial reorganization, opening public offices as places for citizens to relax and enjoy culture," and added, "We will continue to develop this space as a place for open governance and community with citizens."

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