The way I look at how I think of parks in Korea

⚠ Warning : I'm not good at English

Now I'll show you three parks around downtown in Daegu
and tell how I think about those parks.

*From: OBS

This is Gukchae-Bosang Memorial Park(=Gukchae park).

- It has about 43,000 square meter and is the widest park of the three parks.
- It is apart from the main street
- there's a university hospital and a residential area around this park.
- There's some events like the countdown on December 31 and the night lighting on trees.

*From: daegu.go.kr

This is 2.28 Memorial Park(=2.28 Park).
- It has about 14,300 square meter and is located in the center of town
- There is a stage for citizen and some events on the stage.

*From: daegu.go.kr

Lastly this is  Gyeongsang-Gamyeong Park(=GG Park)
- It has about 16,500 square meter
- It is also apart from the main street but less than Gukchae Park.
- There is a industry and tool street called Bukseongno and amenities for the elderly.
- There are almost the whole senior citizens in GG Park and because of them, young people don't go to the park well 





And now I'll mumble about the detail of the parks.

Gukchae Park has wide sidewalks and is open to the view.

I think this two things raise quality of this park.
You couldn't understand why I stress this part
but a wide path is very important in a small country like us.

But 2.28 Park is different with Gukchae Park.
Although the park is small, there is  lots of trees, 
shrubs and grasses excessively.
 For those reasons, the park has narrow paths 
and the view of the park is very lowered inevitably

This space is in the Gukchae Park and 
I think this is nice because t
here are both sunshine and shade and enough privacy.
 But because of little shrubs blocking the view in 'B',
 it has much privacy more than needs.
So I just wish, removing those shrubs and being open to the view.

If you get into 'A', you could watch a view of 'B'.

Unlike the previous space(But the same park),
 this space is totally in the shade.

It is similar with the previous one but because of shade
 and the boring view it looks secluded.

2.28 Park has a stage and lots of water spaces.
I think the idea of making that stage is come 
from overseas countries' advanced examples
 but this small scale of the park is enough already full with 
trees, shrubs and water things.
 So It could've been better if they left the park amply.

It is the square of the Gukchae park.

Unlike other parks, there isn't a fountain or a statue.

There is basketball stands in the wide space.

Because of basketball stands, 
many people come to this park to play basketball and

sometimes there is a contest and because of people 
who play basketball this park looks more activated.

But if there isn't people playing basketball, 
like the picture, it looks very desolate.

*From: economicpost.co.kr

Gukchae park is located in the edge of the center of town.

That means the park isn't in pedestrian circulation(flow).

For that reason, many citizen don't go to the park naturally and 
the park is easily secluded especially when the weather isn't nice.

So the park try to gather people using Luminarie, beautiful lighting and a beautiful path.

But I just think if this park is connected to the center of town better and try to gather people when the weather is very hot and cold because when the weather is cool and warm, it's easy to gather citizen but if not, it's so so hard because of no reason to go to the park.
Anyway their efforts are very nice but I wish they make a long-term strategy.

Those bridge and traditional buildings are located in GG Park.

That bridge is the fact that it provides help to visually 

but also makes the park narrow.

And traditional buildings make this park look Korea 

and that means those buildings give this park identity

 but the buildings take up the park inefficiently 

because we can use the buildings.

Those benched are located in the direction of the park
 but they were located in the direction of the road in the old days.
I think the present direction is better than before 
because paths look wider.
But I feel the lack of the view of the park
 when I seat on the bench because of shrubs.

I think the most problem of Korean parks is this line thing.

Even though the park is small, 

they want to spread grass and plant shrubs

 making the park more and more narrow.

When trees are planted enough for citizen to rest in parks,

 I think, the rest of spaces will be used by people.

I wish don't think a park should be almost covered with 

nature like trees and grass.

+

Lastly

There isn't the standard way to make parks.

So I just wish, 

they make the park that is suitable for Korea and its weather.

and don't apply western parks to Korea

 because unlike the west, 

the grass is hard to grow in Korean weather 

and excessive trees and shrubs don't need in a small country, Korea 

and we have very very enough mountain and

 that means we have lots of nature all over the country.

And if they want to more activate parks, 

they should have to care about pedestrian flow to the parks.

Mumbling about Dongseongno Street in Daegu

⚠ Warning : I'm not good at English

*From: daegu.go.kr

Here is Dongseongno street.

Unlike other metropolitan cities, 

Daegu has only one distinct center of downtown, Dongseongno. 

Although there are bustling places, 

those aren't big and only for around citizen.

 As a result, Daegu government has tried to develop 

and develop that street intensively and 

now this street is much better than before

 but it still has things to be improved and is making a mistake.

Now I tell you my thoughts about Dongseongno st.

First

*From: imaeil.com and idaegu.com

This crosswalk has been made this year in 2013.

It is taking an important role 

because it is striking a balance between 'A' and 'B'

If you go toward 'A' more and more, 

there are much more facilities like stores and bars than 'B' side.

*From: joongang.joins.com

When there wasn't the crosswalk, people rarely went to 'B'side.

 Instead, they stayed in 'A' , around 'A' or used 

the underground shopping center(=USC) 

which is located in under the crosswalk.

So the government tried to make that crosswalk many times from old times

 but merchants in the underground opposed 

because if that's made, 

citizen couldn't use the USC and business could drop off.

 So the government decide to offer two escalators to the merchants.

But I really sad about government's action.

Originally, there wasn't the underground shopping center 

so stores on the ground was damaged economically

 and if the weather get cold and hot,

 people will use the USC unavoidably. 

*From: Naver

This is Seomeyon in Busan.

Here is being experienced like Dongseongno st.

But there is still not cross walks so if people wanna cross the road, 

they have to use the USC or detour about 0.3miles(0.5km).

Second

I think, These benches are misarranged. 

Arranging them in the middle of the street isn't the best way for people
who want to sit on them
because it's easy to get a look from people passing the street
 so they should take a rest caring about a glance not relaxedly.

And they make streets narrow.

So arranging and making benches in the middle might look nice and innovative
 but I think that shouldn't be a priority.

*From: fflickr.com/maltesenwordpresscom and thegridto.com

This arrangement is the best way for citizen.

They could rest without glares and comfortably
and watch people passing the street naturally.

*From: home.dk

this street is quiet different with Dongseongno.

It is clear and looks wide. 

This way of the street is good for Dongseongno st.

Third

This stage is too low
 so many people are hard to see people playing on the stage
when some event or performance go on. 

and Last

Can you believe these wastebaskets is now being used?
I'm really sad
why the government don't care about
this trivial but potential problem.
I'm sure that this one trivial problem
could damage the whole image of downtown.





*
Lastly
I'm sure that if every trial thing is ignored, this street will stand still forever.
It could look successful and beautiful but it will never last intactly.

Several types of the pavements in Korea

⚠ Warning : I'm not good at English

If I could define a pave road in Korea, 

I want to say it is temporary and easy to construct.

I think, the one of the most effective way to change 

an entire image of city is a pavement.

Although city governments are taking care of pavements, 

it's little inefficient and not sustainable. 

For all those reasons, 

those pavements that they tried to 

change aren't in good condition now.

Now I show several types of the pavements.

*From: http://azureluv.tistory.com/

This is the pavement of Dongseongno of Daegu.

it almost consists of reddish bricks 

and there is uneven grayish stones sideways.

its condition isn't bad 

because that street is for pedestrians.

This method is vulnerable to cars.

And I think if those bricks were more darker,

 it looks cleaner than now.

 Here is Seomyeon in Busan.

As you see, 

the grayish pavement isn't in good condition.

This style of the pavement that is gray, a grid brick pattern 

and no bounded between a car and 

a pedestrian is the mainstream in Korea.

The two of alleys is in so poor condition.

It will be much better than now 

if the alley in the first picture is improved and 

fixed but the other alley which is

 in the bottom picture is still attractive.

 I mean the bottom alley matches with 

that place in that's own way.

It's the center of Ulsan's downtown.

A patter with black and white spots is matched 

with vivid signs and grayish buildings and 

I felt that pavement looked cleaner than 

other city's pavements when I saw that. 

I just guess that reason 

why I felt like that is that pattern.

But if this style of the pavement use into the alley 

that is in above pictures, 

it should be horrible and not match with that place.

This is a street in JeonJu hanok village.

That stone pavement is in harmony with 

that area very well.

If that pavement was concrete,

 it never got like this landscape.

 *From: ohmynews

You could think, 

I miswrote two words but not.

Seoul government has changed 

that pavement like the left picture.

I think someone who is seeing that picture

 is the same mind with me.

*

Lastly

Now you have seen sever type of the pavements in Korea 

like concrete, stone, grid or black and white patterns, cement and asphalt.

I think the best way to pave is the way of stone like JeonJu Hanok village's pavement.

the most  basic reasons why I think like that are that the stone pave is strong at contamination and damage from cars and sustainable.

it was made in 1971,

 but it is still working well and in good condition.

Multiplex house called Villa in Korea

⚠ Warning : I'm not good at English

*From: http://Joongang.joins.com

This place is called 'Villa village'. In Korea,  the word 'villa' is using as a multiplex house. 

As I heard, 'Villa' is luxurious word to Korea in the old days for that reason real estate brokers used that word to sell multiplex houses easily. 

So in this page, I call these sort of a multiplex house 'Villa'.

It is the facade of villas. 

It has a parking lot on the first level and a staircase in the center or side and is usually 3~5 story building.

It is the view of the first level. If you want to enter that villa, you have to unlock the digital door-lock.

These alleys are around the villas.

'Villa' has two of the most strength.

First, it doesn't need large land to build so lots of villas are built in a residential area whose land price isn't expensive. As a result you can see that houses and villas are mixed up densely.

Second, It had its own parking lot. that fact is very attractive to this area which is very dense.

Because of villas built here and there, the sun is hard to stream into some general house and many windows on the villas could invade privacy of people who live in that house.

This is an old multiplex house.

Difference between old and new is, the old villa hasn't own parking lot but has unity because of a brown and red brick material and was built intentionally for that reason that isn't mixed up with houses.

It is a quite expensive villa and located in a high place. Frankly I don't know the reason.. T.T

I'll try to get the reason.

The style of Korean modern housing

⚠ Warning : I'm not good at English

Some people say there isn't Korean style of house except for traditional things like 'Han-ok'

But I don't think so, now I show you general residential street or area not an apartment area.

I think, there are fourth typical and general Korean style of houses in Korea.

The first style of house is combination old with modern.

These houses, not the white wall house, consist of a tiled roof, a red brick outer wall and a two-story type.

 Although it has own character, it's not cool in design.

Second, This is the modern style of house.

This style consists of a rooftop, brick wall, two-story type.

This house form at a right angle entirely for that reason it looks minimal and clean.

and even if these houses are old and they look little shabby, they have a stately atmosphere.

   

Third, It is also the modern style of house.

The difference between second and third is third style of house has a roof.

And I guess, but ain't sure, the house including roof has a wide yard mostly.

Because of a roof, it little looks more like a western-house.

These pictures are from a top view.

Almost the whole modern house has stairs outside, a little yard.

And the reason why some houses have a green floor on the top is because of being waterproof.

Lastly, This is the lowest level of house and a shanty.

Mostly senior citizens live in these houses.

This area consists of a narrow and poor alley, dense home, a painting wall and a poor roof.

These are alleys in housing areas.

Because of low level structures and little open facades, those alleys come as a familiarity to us.

But there is the parking problem and it isn't safe.

It's the inside.

Mostly, a porch is used to hang out the washing.

Korean don't spread grass on the yard because it's not suitable weather to spread grass in Korea.

It's former residential and commercial complex.




















*
Lastly
I wish you know what is Korean housing style.
Of course that is similar with Japanese housing but I think, Korean style has humane and rough attraction.


**
Location
here is around the Busan city hall.