왕성교회

What secrets do these walls hold? Right here, before Wangsung Church, we uncover a story of transformation. Wangsung Church, located at 308 Sinrim-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, has been a spiritual anchor since 1965. It faced a challenge familiar to many growing communities: a shortage of space. The church leadership wrestled with the decision to relocate or expand. They ultimately chose renovation and extension, selling their vision center to fund the project. The congregation desired a space that served both its members and the local community. They envisioned a cafe and restaurant for residents and members, a dedicated pastor’s room, and relocated educational spaces for teenagers. The architects responded with an ingenious solution. A six-story educational center was seamlessly integrated into the existing structure. The center’s ground floor utilized pilotis to maximize parking space. Floors two through four housed educational facilities. The fifth floor became a welcoming restaurant for the entire congregation. The sixth floor provided space for the pastor’s rooms. The cafe, designed as a sky lounge atop the main church, offers stunning views, fulfilling the church officials’ desire for a space with a vista. The renovation also aimed to create a new image for Wangsung Church. The outdated facade, composed of three concrete cylinders on a brick wall, was reimagined. A cross-striped grid now adorns the expanded facade, incorporating the sky lounge cafe. This grid harmonizes with the surrounding buildings and frames exposed concrete and transparent windows. The new design fosters interaction between the church and the community, symbolizing the church’s light illuminating the world. The original brick wall, a key element of the old building’s identity, was preserved at the lower facade level. It also forms the inner wall of the educational center. This thoughtful integration of old and new allows Wangsung Church to embrace its past while stepping confidently into the future.