Work on creating
Asia’s largest cultural facility is finally complete. The Forest of Light in
Gwangju, South Korea is part of the Korean government’s major economic plan to revive
the historically important, but economically stagnant city.
Located
on the site of the 1980 democratic uprisings, the 30-acre complex houses five
agencies dedicated to creation, distribution, and consumption of cultural
content (including studios, theaters, museums, and offices), together with a
major public green space.
Designed by
Boston-based Kyu Sung Woo Architects, much of the complex is underground
and covered by a rooftop park, which acts as an urban lung, as well as a civic
space for a wide range of events.
The design preserved historic buildings, giving them new functions
through adaptive reuse, while the architects incorporated natural light in the
underground facilities with more than 70 skylights, which glow like lanterns at
night.
