Gwangcheon-dong Redevelopment Designated as Gwangju's First Special Architectural Zone

The Gwangcheon-dong redevelopment zone in Seo-gu, the largest redevelopment project in Gwangju, has been designated as a special architectural zone-the first such designation in the city. The association expects that this improvement in project viability will accelerate progress on the project, which had long remained stagnant.

Gwangju City Hall. Provided by Gwangju City Hall

On October 9, Gwangju City announced that it had designated and officially notified the Gwangcheon-dong residential redevelopment maintenance project as a special architectural zone on October 1. The designated area covers 243,649 square meters around 670 Gwangcheon-dong, Seo-gu. The site is slated to accommodate apartment complexes up to 45 stories high, with more than 5,000 units, as well as ancillary facilities and parks.

Designation as a special architectural zone relaxes building code standards such as building-to-land ratio and floor area ratio. Gwangju City adjusted building height limits and the required distance between buildings to ensure adequate sunlight. In some complexes, the maximum number of floors was increased from 33 to 39, and the required distance between buildings, previously set at 0.8 to 1 times the building height, was reduced to 0.7 to 0.8 times, allowing for a diverse skyline with a mix of high- and mid-rise buildings.

The redevelopment association requested the special architectural zone designation in April last year by submitting a project plan that reduced the number of units while increasing building heights. Afterward, Gwangju City, the association, and the Seo-gu District Office reached agreements on traffic measures such as road expansion and on preserving the citizens’ apartments within the complex, completing the designation process.

The Gwangcheon-dong redevelopment has seen construction delayed for 14 years since its designation as a maintenance zone in 2012. The association aims to begin demolition within this year, start construction in the second half of next year, and complete the project by the end of 2029.

A city official stated, "By reducing the number of units and widening the spacing between buildings, the complex will feel more open, allowing for harmonious and creative building layouts. Along with improved cityscape, we also expect increased participation from construction companies."

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