• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.185-198
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• 2013

The 2002 World Cup cheering in front of Seoul City Hall and Seoul Plaza design competition provided an opportunity for the discussion of a variety of discourses regarding our plaza culture. The Gwanghwamun Plaza constructed in 2009 also generated discussions for questions on the function of our plaza as a symbolic, humanistic and utilized place. The questions on whether we have created a plaza culture or what should be done for the design of our plaza are still being explored. The reason is that our plazas were constructed without social consensus regarding identity of our plaza while we are influenced by western plaza ideas. The principle of our plaza culture and shape is not yet discussed and determined. The emergence of discussion sparked by the Gwanghwamun Plaza and the Seoul Plaza can be seen as a positive phenomenon. If we can continue to build creative discourse, we will be able to establish our plaza cultures soon. In this context, the Ansan Gwangduk-ro theme plaza design can be a significant material to be discussed. The design competition for the plaza was held in 2009 and it is followed by the construction of the plaza in late 2010. Considering cultural and spatial issues on our plaza in mind, the project will be explained and the identity of the contemporary design will also be explored.