Gwangju City Selects Winning Design for Carbon-Neutral Timber Education Complex

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Gwangju City announced on the 5th that it has selected the winning and finalist designs for the architectural competition to construct a carbon-neutral timber education complex.

Three companies from across the nation participated in this competition, and six external judges selected the winning design (1st place) and finalist design (2nd place) through discussion via a voting method.

The winning design was conceived under the slogan "Sustainable Future of Carbon Neutrality in 2050" with the concept of "Forest, Zero: Forest (Zero 4 Rest)," which starts carbon neutrality in line with the era of timber architecture.

The required facilities were arranged three-dimensionally to match the sloped terrain where the timber education complex will be located. The plan received positive evaluations from multiple judges as it demonstrates efficient use of the entire site and applies various timber structural forms to each facility, enabling comprehensive experience and education in timber structures.

The timber education complex will be built in the San 25 area of Mokhyeon-dong with a project budget of 13 billion won, consisting of a timber structure building with 3,000㎡ of total floor area, 2 basement and 4 above-ground stories, along with parking spaces for 60 vehicles.

The city plans to organize this space to include timber education teacher training, timber education facilities, timber healing spaces, timber craft exhibition hall, and timber craft experience areas.

In particular, the city plans to additionally construct a training center for successful operation of the timber education complex and sustainable timber education implementation, and will also develop a children's forest experience zone to maximize project effectiveness.

Mayor Bang Se-hwan stated, "Gwangju City is expected to establish itself as the center of timber education in the Republic of Korea in the carbon-neutral era," and added, "It is anticipated that the city will not only attract more than 20,000 timber education students annually from across the nation but will also help revitalize the local economy."