Suwon's Gateway Landscape to Embody Specialized City Distinction

Suwon's gateway landscape is set to undergo transformation befitting a specialized city of distinction.

The city announced on the 25th that it plans to complete improvements to the surrounding landscape at the city's boundary entry and exit sections by the end of next year to create a favorable first impression of Suwon as an attractive city for visiting tourists.

To this end, the city has already been operating a "T/F Team for Promoting a Specialized City" with civil servants from seven sectors including urban planning, greenery, and transportation, and design consulting work is currently underway, the city announced.

The city has determined that the current gateway landscape connecting other regions to Suwon remains unplanned and limited to simple installation of sculptural objects, which does not match the image of an international city. It therefore plans to establish an integrated landscape approach.

On National Route 1, which borders Yongin, historical and cultural symbolic sculptures will be created. On National Route 42 at the Yongin border, sculptures symbolizing high-tech industry and education-centered city will be erected. Additionally, on National Route 42 at the Ansan border, the concept involves creating an eco-friendly space through specialized street tree landscaping.

Kim Ji-wan, director of the Urban Innovation Bureau, stated, "We plan to complete this by the end of next year. By promoting the gateway landscape project, we will establish city identity and create specialized and distinguished urban spaces to enhance Suwon's image."

Meanwhile, public buildings throughout Suwon are being transformed into eco-friendly structures with improved energy efficiency. The plan calls for ten public facilities including Suwon Gymnasium No. 2, the Disabled Welfare Hall, the Atopy Healing Center, and the Climate Change Experience Center to receive eco-friendly building certification and energy efficiency ratings, and will install renewable energy equipment and high-efficiency fixtures.

Additionally, the city has decided to convert public building construction into citizen participation projects. To this end, the city plans to hold design competitions and citizen briefing sessions to create a system where users and stakeholders share information and exchange views from the design phase through construction.