Gwangju Asia Culture Complex
The given site represents the spirit of protest for democracy in modern Korean history and is marked by the occurrence of genocide. The place has been considered a sacred realm for the deceased protesters. However, the government decided to transform this historic site into a new Asian Cultural Complex which is to serve as an anchor for downtown revitalization.
This proposal is based on three premises: the place can be celebrated by public activities, space can be generated by a continuous flow rather than a hierarchical spatial organization, and the architecture represents the spirit of democracy.
Firstly, to decentralize the flow of the public and to generate multi-nuclear communities at the site, a series of stacked layers is introduced. Each layer functions as an essential infrastructural component of a small village, including waterways, roads, and open space. Next, light wells intervene with the stacked layers. This intervention deconstructs the conventional idea of stacking floors into a building; it allows for free interaction at unexpected spots and introduces a blurred interior space, defined by an absence of some surrounding walls.The designed platform will foster dynamics among users, introduce new ways to experience both space and authentic local culture, and most importantly it will remind present-day visitors of the history of the protesters.