“A town’s guest room.” That’s what they call the Dogok 1 Dong Community Service Center. This community hub isn’t just another government office. It’s a place where residents connect rest and even hold meetings.
Dogok 1 Dong Community Service Center resides in Gangnam District. Gangnam is a pretty affluent area of Seoul. The center’s location is ideal for community engagement.
Let’s step back to 2009. The building that houses Dogok 1 Dong Community Service Center was the result of an architectural competition. It was envisioned as a large-scale public space. It included a community center a library and a cultural center. The Dogok 1 Dong Community Service Center landed on the second floor.
Fast forward seven years. The building’s interior needed a refresh. The lobby felt dark and empty. It was more of a transit space than a welcoming area. The public service center felt like a typical government office. It lacked community.
Architect Jiyoung Lee stepped in. She aimed to transform the space into a vibrant hub. Her design concept? Inserting a space within a space like an “ameba shining in a dark quadrilateral.” The goal was to create a translucent free-curved area. This would resolve the visual stuffiness.
The execution wasn’t easy. The curved glass couldn’t fit through the existing entrance. Workers had to disassemble the curtain wall to bring it inside. Facility lines were tangled. Electricians had to delicately modify them. They adjusted lighting positions to avoid shadows on the stretching ceiling.
Despite these challenges the renovated Dogok 1 Dong Community Service Center opened in August 2019. Immediately residents started using it. It became that “town’s guest room” the architect envisioned. People visited rested and held meetings there.
Dogok 1 Dong Community Service Center is more than just a building. It’s a place where community thrives. It is a place where people save money with free services. Toolboxes and umbrellas are available for anyone to lend. Need to print something? Use the free copy and printing machines. You can also exchange old batteries or recycle milk cartons. It is a place that cares about its residents.