Jongno-gu to Build 5-Story Wooden Building in Hyoje-dong... First Case by Local Government

Completion in the Second Half of Next Year
To Be Used as a Social Welfare Facility

Perspective view of the wooden architecture pilot project in Hyoje-dong. (Photo provided by Jongno-gu Office)

Jongno-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeong Munheon) announced on the 9th that it will officially launch the ‘Hyoje-dong Wooden Building Pilot Project,’ which is the first wooden building of five stories above ground constructed by a local government nationwide.

Jongno-gu explained, “The project gained momentum after the 7th Architecture Committee held last month conditionally approved the Hyoje-dong Wooden Building Pilot Project,” adding, “Following the establishment of a dedicated organization to serve as the hub for the related project, we are currently formulating the ‘Basic Plan for the Activation of Wooden Architecture.’”

This project involves constructing a wooden building led by the public sector in the area of 107 Hyoje-dong. It will be promoted through a donation method from the adjacent site where the Hyoje-dong Officetel (tentative name) will be built. The wooden building will have one basement floor and five floors above ground, with a total floor area of 743.9㎡, and after completion, it will be used as a social welfare facility for residents. The plan is to obtain the building permit and start construction in the first half of this year and complete it in the second half of next year.

The main points of the architectural plan (draft) include a wooden structure plan using domestically produced larch for columns and beams except for the pilotis and core, adjusting the size and spacing of members on each floor to provide various wooden structure experiences, and a transparent curtain wall finish for maintenance and management. Additionally, one floor’s flooring will use wood to attempt a technical challenge regarding inter-floor noise issues.

To lead the ‘activation of eco-friendly wooden architecture’ contributing to carbon reduction, the district held a seminar titled ‘Realizing a Wood-Friendly City Jongno-gu through the Activation of Medium and Large Wooden Buildings’ in October last year and signed a business agreement with the Korea Wooden Architecture Association.

Cases of constructing wooden buildings with five or more stories above ground are extremely rare in Korea. This is the first case by a local government, while representative cases by the government include the ‘Yeongju Hangreen Wooden Building (5 stories above ground)’ built by the Korea Forest Service and the ‘Daejeon Forest Welfare Promotion Institute (7 stories above ground).’

District Mayor Jeong Munheon emphasized, “We aim to attract residents’ interest and secure technical capabilities through the pilot project,” adding, “The Hyoje-dong Wooden Building Pilot Project can become a representative case demonstrating the potential of wooden architecture in neighborhood living facilities and commercial facilities at a scale that private sectors in urban areas can directly refer to.”