[Extinction] ⑥Breaking Down 'Restrictions' to Create Spaces for People... The Transformation of Closed Schools is 'Innocent'

Active Support from Local Governments for Repurposing Closed Schools
A Venue for Interaction Between the Elderly and Children
Commercial Districts in Normal Times, Medical Centers in Times of Crisis
Educational Facilities for Women and People with Disabilities

Editor's Note"It takes a whole village to raise a child." This is a well-known Nigerian proverb. However, the reverse is also true: to sustain a village, children are essential. This is the current reality for many villages in Korea. Villages that do not raise children are paying the price. They have become neglected, outdated, dark, and shrouded in silence as people stop coming. This article aims to directly examine the impact that abandoned school buildings have on their local communities.

Looking at successful cases of repurposing closed schools, there are commonalities: they relaxed restrictions on how the buildings could be used, or they established reuse plans early on in cooperation with residents and local governments. This was possible because their top priority was to create spaces that could attract people and revitalize the community. Here, we examine successful examples that can provide valuable direction for finding solutions to transform Korea's 367 unused closed schools nationwide into content that can coexist with local communities.

① Tokyo Toy Museum, Japan

Tokyo Toy Museum located in Tokyo, Japan. It utilizes the building of Yotsuya No.4 Elementary School, which was closed in 2007. Tokyo Toy Museum website

Japan, which faced a declining school-age population earlier than Korea, maximized the efficiency of repurposing closed schools by opening participation opportunities to both private and nonprofit organizations.

According to Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, about 7,600 schools were closed in Japan between 1992 and 2023. Even the capital, Tokyo, was not spared. In March 2007, Yotsuya No.4 Elementary School was merged with No.1 and No.3 Elementary Schools. Despite its 100-year history, it could not avoid the decline in student numbers. The closed site of Yotsuya No.4 Elementary School was at risk of being left vacant for a long time.

Amid this crisis, the Japanese nonprofit organization Good Toy Committee relocated the Tokyo Toy Museum, previously located in Chiyoda Ward, to the closed Yotsuya No.4 Elementary School site in 2008. They needed a spacious area where children could play and a location with good accessibility in the city center?both requirements were met. In particular, the closed school had large classrooms and a gymnasium. This proposal also aligned with the interests of the Shinjuku Ward government, which did not want the building to be left abandoned. With Shinjuku Ward providing maximum support, the museum is now operated through a partnership between private and nonprofit organizations, rather than solely by local or central government.

At the Tokyo Toy Museum in Japan, you can see elderly volunteers helping children play. Tokyo Toy Museum website

Today, the Tokyo Toy Museum has become a popular tourist destination. Korean tourists visiting Japan with children often go to the museum. Children can play with more than 10,000 toys from around the world, while adults can reminisce about toys from their own childhood. In recognition of these features, the museum won the "International Award Children's Museum Award" in 2023.

The museum is also considered a successful example of coexistence with the local community. Elderly people are a common sight at the Tokyo Toy Museum. They serve as volunteer guides, but they do more than just give directions. They teach children how to play with toys that may be unfamiliar or difficult to handle. The museum is praised not only for supporting children's emotional development but also for promoting intergenerational exchange.

② Bok Building, Philadelphia, USA

Bok Building located in Philadelphia, USA. It houses over 200 companies, restaurants, and nonprofit organizations. Bok Building official website

The United States has also seen school closures due to declining student numbers. Edward Bok High School in Philadelphia was established in 1938 to provide skilled workers for the region's industries. Although it was large enough to accommodate 3,000 students, it closed in 2013 due to a decrease in student numbers and maintenance costs. Instead of repurposing the site for educational use, the Philadelphia School District decided to sell the property. When selling the closed school, which had a building area of 34,000 square meters, the top priority was to create a space that could attract people.

The design firm Scout won the public auction held in 2014 with a bid of $1.75 million (about 2.46 billion KRW) and transformed the site into a commercial space called the Bok Building. Instead of undertaking extensive renovations, they kept rents low to attract small businesses and struggling artists. It took less than a year for the closed school to find its new role.

Edward Bok High School, which was located before the Bok Building in Philadelphia, USA. Although it was large enough to accommodate 3,000 students, it was closed in 2013 due to a decline in the number of students. Bok Building official website

Today, the Bok Building houses more than 200 companies, artists, restaurants, and nonprofit organizations. Numerous artists' studios are packed into the building. The Bok Building has become a landmark visited by 250,000 tourists annually. The rooftop restaurant, Bok Bar, is famous among tourists as a place to enjoy panoramic views of Philadelphia.

It is not just a commercial space. The Bok Building has made efforts to contribute to the local community. When COVID-19 spread in 2020, it was transformed into a medical center for Philadelphia residents. Locals could get free COVID-19 tests at the Bok Building. In addition, immigrants in the area can receive affordable medical treatment at the Wise Wellness Center located in the Bok Building, regardless of their health insurance status. During U.S. presidential elections, the Bok Building is also used as a polling station.

③ Dreaming Art Center, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province

The "Dreaming Art Center," utilizing the closed site of Yeongseong Girls' Middle School in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, which was closed in 2019, offers art education programs available for everyone from the elderly to young children. Dreaming Art Center website

There are also successful examples of repurposing closed schools in Korea. The Dreaming Art Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, now occupies the former site of Yeongseong Girls' Middle School, which was closed in 2019 due to declining student enrollment. The Dreaming Art Center was inspired by the "Annantalo" project in Helsinki, Finland, which also transformed a closed elementary school into an arts education center for children and youth. The former Yeongseong Girls' Middle School site is now home to a five-story arts education institution equipped with studios, a playroom for young children, and workspaces.

Because the city and the education office reflected residents' opinions and worked together to prepare the arts education institution even before the school closed, the project was able to take root. In December 2017, the city of Seongnam and the Seongnam Office of Education held a signing ceremony to agree on the use of the school's facilities. In addition, the Seongnam Cultural Foundation, under the city government, held meetings to gather residents' feedback. Securing the budget went smoothly. In 2018, Seongnam City was selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's "Support Project for Cultural Arts Education Centers Utilizing Idle Spaces," securing 3 billion KRW. The remaining 3 billion KRW was funded by the city of Seongnam.

Since 2020, the Dreaming Art Center has offered about 820 arts education programs, reaching approximately 100,000 participants. Even now, a variety of classes in woodworking, painting, music, and more are actively held for everyone from young children to adults. A representative from the Dreaming Art Center said, "We plan and operate customized education for each stage of life," and added, "In the future, we plan to expand our educational programs outside the school building by collaborating with other institutions."