A Small, Everyday Public Space
The Samyang-dong Community Service Center is located in an area in Mia-dong, Gangbuk-gu, dense with small villas and houses. It is an area with high population density and a high percentage of vulnerable social groups. Narrow alleys are connected to all corners, and roads slope upwards and downwards. There is an old market in the neighborhood, and pedestrians weave through sidewalks and roads. This neighborhood, which still treasures the scenery of an old city, is not prosperous but has its charm, making it much more attractive than any splendid, spacious and clean apartment complex in Gangnam. However, despite the fact that there is an elderly population higher than 15%, there is no universal design or consideration in ramps that go up and down. There are pathways where people come into short distance of each other, but they are narrow and untidy, which make poor walking conditions. Due to the high population ratio, the proportion of public spaces occupied per person, such as sidewalks, benches and parks, is significantly low. An artificial and spacious landscape such as those in apartment complexes may not be necessary, but there should be at least a small space with benches for resting, a simple place where the neighborhood residents can gather and chat. It is a neighborhood in need of a small, everyday public space.
The Gray Band for Connecting Gardens
We approached Samyang-dong Community Service Center in terms of providing public space, which residents to not have much of as mentioned above. We connected the front yard of the community service center and the pocket yard hidden behind the office space to provide residents with an external public space. We installed ‘The Gray Band’, a public service desk in order to naturally connect these two courtyards, and placed a waiting area at the entrance of the pocket yard. The two courts are left as they are due to budget issues, but it is meaningful that the villagers have returned the courtyard to be used as public space.
Previously, the waiting area had one long chair to seat three people, and the staff’s office space and the public service space were combined, creating a poor environment for work efficiency. Also, the consultation room was being used as a warehouse. After removing the resident registration room and consultation room, we moved the main space to the upper floor leaving only essential documents and space. The public service desk was installed following the circulation that connects the two yards, separating the office space from the public service space. The consultation room was changed into a public service waiting area. The Samyang-dong Community Service Center has more welfare counseling for vulnerable groups than simple public service, so the public service desk was lowered to a level at which the staff and resident can speak at the same eye level. The Gray Band partially conceals the office space, helping the resident and employee concentrate on their consultation.
