Odong Forest Library

_hyogeun_

"Romantic City" - Odong Forest Library
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When comparing good cities to less favorable ones, it's often mentioned how details make the difference: the facades of buildings, signage, roadside trees, cars, etc. Cities are judged by the external form and decoration and their harmonization, but what's more important is whether there's space that holds various stories arising from human relationships. Places where serendipitous meetings can occur, accommodating both large and small events, make a city vibrant and romantic.

Paris is counted as a wonderful city not because of its deep details but because its open and public spaces easily encountered in daily life contain life's moments. From small parks to large ones, easily accessible public spaces attract people all year round, creating stories. This is why Paris is vibrant and a city of romance.

In our country, although there are fewer parks, there are many mountains. Despite both being green spaces, the accessibility decreases due to slopes, and there are fewer areas to walk and rest due to less flat ground. In addition, with fewer public facilities, the city lacks romanticism.
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The 'Odong Forest Library' located at the entrance of the Wolgoksan mountain trail becomes an extension of the park path like the open spaces in Paris, supporting various programs and offering rest to people. The building takes a tornado shape following the flow of Odong Park Road; the roof creates gaps while rising step by step, and the ground creates layers while going down. Light entering through the gaps changes the atmosphere of the space according to the time, and the layers allow viewing the park from multiple levels. It's a small space but offers a diverse experience.

Instead of walls, stacked wooden bookshelves create rooms and hallways, separating traffic flow. The space is filled with the scent of wood, and light filtered through books gently illuminates the interior. Thanks to the wooden structure that eliminates the need for walls, the main space surrounded by bookshelves feels open, not cramped.

Odong Forest Library was once an old wood chipper site, constantly generating dust and noise complaints. Thanks to Seoul City's book rest area project in parks launched in 2019, it has been reborn as a space for reading and healing for residents, transforming our cities into romantic ones. With more rest areas and libraries planned to be built in Seoul, the city is likely to become a city of romance.

Architecture: Woonseongdong Architects (@usdspace2022)
Photo, text: Hyogeun Shin (@_hyogeun_)
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#Good_Space_Experience
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Seoul, Seongbuk-gu, Hwarang-ro 13ga-gil, 110-10
Every day 09:00 - 18:00 (Closed on Sundays and Mondays)