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Solution 3. Adaptive Reuse: Jeonil Building Renovation | Junglim Architecture

Junglim Architecture+ISP Architect & Engineering

photographed by
Kim Changmook
materials provided by
Junglim Architecture
edited by
Bang Yukyung, Lee Sowoon
background
SPACE May 2026 (No. 702) 

 

 

 

 

For over 50 years, the Jeonil Building (currently Jeonil Building 245) stood as a landmark in Geumnam-ro, Gwangju, and a historic site for the May 18 Democratization Movement. However, it gradually lost its prominence following the relocation of the provincial office and the building¡¯s deterioration. The 2015 opening of the Asia Culture Center sparked a public consensus to revive the building as a complex cultural space. Under the concept of ¡®coexistence between old and new¡¯, the design team focused on inheriting the spirit of May 18 and restoring the building¡¯s symbolic value. 

 

 

 

The outdoor staircase leading to the roof terrace 

 

 

*You can see more information on the SPACE No. May (2026).
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Architect

Junglim Architecture (Jeong Yongkyo, Lee Myungjin)

Design team

Junglim Architecture – Tak Yong, Kim Byungji

Location

245, Geumnam-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, Korea

Programme

office, commercial facility

Site area

2,778.1§³

Building area

2,483.31§³

Gross floor area

19,243.07§³

Building scope

B1, 10F

Parking

53

Height

39.6m

Building to land ratio

89.38%

Floor area ratio

661.39%

Structure

RC

Exterior finishing

water-based paint after concrete surface preparati

Interior finishing

PVC tile, epoxy lining, eco-water paint on plaster

Structural engineer

KJ Structure Engineers

Mechanical engineer

SAHM-SHIN Engineers, INC.

Electrical engineer

Sunjin ENF

Construction

Samjin Construction

Design period

Aug. 2016 – Jan. 2019

Construction period

May 2019 – Jan. 2020

Client

Gwangju Metropolitan City Corporation



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