Gwangju City Announces Manual for Implementing the 'Urban and Architecture Declaration'

Kim Jong-hyo, Deputy Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, attended the manual presentation event for the implementation of the Gwangju Urban and Architectural Declaration held at Mudeung Hall in City Hall on the morning of the 6th. After delivering a commemorative speech, he took a commemorative photo with the attendees. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced a manual for the implementation of the ‘Gwangju Urban and Architectural Declaration’ and revealed plans to realize a city and architecture true to Gwangju at Mudeung Hall in City Hall on the 6th.

Last October 30, Gwangju City announced the ‘Gwangju Urban and Architectural Declaration,’ which contains a new vision for Gwangju’s urban and architectural future and a commitment to restoring Gwangju’s uniqueness. The city has been focusing on preparing a practical manual to ensure the declaration is implemented through concrete projects rather than remaining a one-time declaration.

The manual targets 65 statutory and non-statutory plans, ordinances, guidelines, and policy studies, including the city’s basic urban plan, basic architectural plan, basic landscape plan, comprehensive housing plan, safety management plan, and basic park and green space plan, which are either being established or planned. It is structured to reflect the values, plans, and goals pursued by the Urban and Architectural Declaration.

For each of the 10 articles, the manual provides planning objectives, tasks, strategies, projects, implementation systems, and checklists, enabling performance management by task. In particular, it specifies the responsible departments and schedules to clarify the parties accountable for implementation and the roadmap.

Additionally, for performance management, civil society, the council, and Gwangju City will monitor the implementation results, and after review by the Architectural Policy Committee, a performance report will be prepared every two years.

Along with the manual, the city also announced leading implementation projects: ‘Securing Views of Mudeungsan Mountain and Establishing a Green Network’ and ‘Urban and Architectural Management Plans for the Old Downtown through District Unit Planning.’

Ham In-seon, the chief architect in charge of the announcement, said, “The Gwangju Urban and Architectural Declaration and manual represent an integrated value system for urban and architectural development, distinguished by its concrete action plans, tasks, and roadmaps that guarantee execution.” Regarding the leading projects, he added, “These tasks are currently the most critical and urgent issues for Gwangju, which is why they were selected as leading projects.”

Kim Jong-hyo, Deputy Mayor for Administration, stated, “We must move away from uniform apartment forests and gray cities and infuse Gwangju’s uniqueness into urban architecture and the lives of its citizens.” He added, “We will actively implement the core values of sustainable urban architecture that will not be damaged even as times change, as reflected in the declaration and manual.”

Meanwhile, the ‘Gwangju Urban and Architectural Declaration’ was prepared from July 2019 through the work of the chief architect and public architects (24 people), expert consultative bodies, civic groups, and the Architectural Policy Committee to regenerate the city into one where quality of life is emphasized and people are the owners.

The preamble and 10 articles contain a promise to respect Gwangju’s history and nature and to prioritize human values, reflecting the spirit of Gwangju in urban and architectural development for the future.

The 10 articles cover ▲History and Future ▲Safety and Coexistence ▲Villages and Communities ▲Transportation and Roads ▲Landscape and Views ▲Green Spaces and Parks ▲Homes and Architecture ▲Public Facilities and Public Architecture ▲Multi-family Housing and Residential Infrastructure ▲Publicness and Urban Administration, making the declaration significant as it encompasses both urban and architectural aspects.