While Odong Park is beloved by locals, some concerns have been raised regarding dust generated from the wood-cutting area. Responding to the community’s request for a new facility, the design team envisioned the forest library as a welcoming public shelter—a space where people can engage in conversations and connect over books.
Odong Park is a captivating urban green space featuring wide pedestrian walkways. These paths are paved with gently sloping wooden boards, accommodating various activities and offering residents a tranquil area to relax. The Odong Public Library is strategically positioned at the start of the walkway, serving as an inviting gateway that extends the trail’s reach.
To foster openness, the library’s basic structure transforms into bookshelf walls. These walls create an open lower space, while the central main room rises to its highest point with a spiral ceiling reminiscent of a mountain peak. The varying heights of the foldable roof allow sunlight to filter through openings, bathing the interior in natural light and blending indoor and semi-outdoor atmospheres.
A defining feature of the library’s design is the bookshelf wall, which divides and allocates space uniquely. Unlike traditional walls that limit interaction, these bookshelf walls create a flowing, interconnected environment. This layout forms a balanced dual maze structure, blending self-sufficiency with integration. The design carefully considers the size and arrangement of the shelves to harmonize the building’s furniture, spatial use, and structural elements.
Though modest in size, this library offers a versatile space where visitors from all walks of life can feel both purposeful and free-spirited. Its integrated, circular layout transcends its physical dimensions, serving as a place rich with multiple meanings and values.
The interplay between the bookshelves and the linear window frames within the triangular roof creates openings that invite natural light and views of the surrounding landscape. This intricate, multi-layered maze stimulates creativity, joy, and innovation, providing an inspiring environment for both locals and children.
Project Drawings
△ Analysis Chart
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Sectional Perspective
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architect: UnSangDong Architects
Area: 431 square meters
Year: 2023
Photographer: Namgoong Sun
Chief Architects: Jang Yoongyoo, Shin Changhoun
Leadership Team: Jang Yoongyoo, Shin Changhoun
Design Team: Kim Bonggyun, Han Narye, Goh Youngdong, Lee Siyoung
Location: Seongbuk-gu, South Korea
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