Earticle

This study examines the case of Hunter’s Point South(HPS) in NYC as a representative model of urban regeneration through waterfront public parks. The project transformed a former industrial brownfield site into a mixed-use district integrating mixed-income housing, public open space, and community infrastructure, based on a public-private partnership structure. With public investment in land acquisition, environmental remediation, and infrastructure serving as a foundation, private developers were selected to implement phased development, aligning public interest with market viability. Drawing on previous research and related documents, this study analyzes the structural characteristics of brownfield regeneration and PPP models, focusing on the park’s role in climate adaptation and development stimulation, the effects of social integration through mixed-income housing, and the institutional transparency achieved through formal public review procedures. The HPS development demonstrates how environmental restoration and community revitalization can be simultaneously achieved, offering a compelling model for sustainable urban redevelopment and providing meaningful implications for future waterfront planning and public-led development strategies.

Since the 2020s, Korean society is facing the crisis of “regional extinction,” a rapid population decline and the loss of residential functionality in rural areas. As the crisis is a macro-scale social phenomenon, the role of architecture is to mitigate its negative impact and provide spatial opportunities for the impacted areas to retain residential functionality. With two main assumptions, that the concept of “residential population” urges rural areas to become attractive places that address higher-order needs that cannot be met in urban areas, and that while shared housing facilities can leverage the strengths of rural areas, they are also vulnerable to their weaknesses, they should therefore be developed into mobile shared housing, this study reinterprets the concept of “living population,” a recently emerging strategic response to the problem, into “mobile shared housing.” We examine the results of this approach in architectural education and provide directions for future improvement with the main findings of this study being as follows: First, mobile shared housing can be implemented using the plug-in architecture concept, with the curriculum presented in this study successfully facilitated the acquisition of this concept in architectural education. Second, however, due to a lack of a foundational knowledge in humanities, the curriculum revealed limitations on realizing the ultimate intentions of mobile shared housing, thus requiring further refinements in the curriculum.

This study examines the application level and structural limitations of universal design in exterior entrance spaces and interior sanitary spaces of 29 rural community facilities in Gongsan-myeon, Naju-si, South Korea. Field surveys, on-site measurements, floor plan analysis, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to analyze spatial configurations, circulation, and accessibilityand safety-related design elements. The results indicate a clear gap between formal compliance with accessibility standards and actual usability for older adults. Although entrance doors generally satisfy minimum width requirements, threshold removal was not observed in any facility, and canopies were installed in only 34.5% of cases. In sanitary spaces, non-slip flooring was widely applied (93.1%), whereas grab bars were installed in 48.3% of facilities, with only 20.7% meeting applicable standards. Insufficient clear floor space further limited the effectiveness of installed safety features. Overall, universal design elements were implemented in a fragmented manner, lacking integrated planning across circulation and spatial components. These limitations reflect structural issues related to urban-oriented standards, budget constraints, and one-time improvement policies. The findings suggest the need to redefine rural-specific design criteria and establish systematic evaluation and management frameworks.

This study aims to empirically evaluate the spatial accessibility and locational suitability of Living SOC facilities in areas where Rural Centrality Activation Projects have been completed. To this end, four case study areas were categorized by their spatial structures, and GIS network and buffer analyses were employed to analyze the coverage of 15-minute driving isochrones and Pedestrian Catchment Areas (PCA). The analysis revealed that, based on vehicle travel, most outlying villages were included within the hub's influence zone, ensuring broad regional mobility. However, from the PCA perspective, which reflects the walking characteristics of the elderly, a spatial disparity in service delivery was identified even within the hub. Notably, the study identified locational inappropriateness, where primary essential living facilities were situated outside the effective walking range. These physical constraints, coupled with the fact that current software (S/W) programs are heavily focused on internal facility activities, suggest that project outcomes struggle to reach the entire living zone without a Mobility Support system for outlying village residents. Based on these findings, the study proposes policy alternatives including the institutionalization of 'Location Optimization Standards for Essential Facilities', the enhancement of mobility-oriented S/W, and the redefining of living zone hubs centered on transportation nodes.

This study analyzes residents’ perceptions of public facility reorganization in rural centers (Anchor, General, and Village-level townships) facing severe population decline to propose strategies for a sustainable service delivery system. The research surveyed 285 residents across 71 centers in 11 counties within the Jeolla provinces, all categorized in the ‘risk of regional extinction’ stage. Using Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), the study confirmed that facility management must be differentiated by hierarchy. For General Townships, ‘quality improvement’ of high-utilization facilities is the priority. Village-level Townships, however, require ‘resource optimization’ and restructuring of inefficient facilities. Residents seek ‘quality of life’ (culture/welfare) normally but prioritize ‘basic services’ (administration/safety/health) during crises. Regarding reorganization, they strongly oppose fee increases. Instead, they favor ‘Smart Shrink’ strategies, focusing on efficiency through ‘facility integration’ and ‘co-management with neighboring municipalities’. Customized complexation strategies centered on anchor facilities like Township Offices are required. Anchor Townships prefer functional advancement for wider areas, while Village-level townships require survival-oriented integration through ‘Integrated Service Buildings’ that compress essential functions into a single space. In conclusion, reorganization must be data-driven and transparent, emphasizing the necessity of wider-area service networks through inter-regional cooperation to ensure the long-term viability of rural communities.

This study empirically examines the spatial impact of the National Fire Hospital, currently under construction to address the healthcare infrastructure deficit in the central region of Chungcheongbuk-do. The research focuses on analyzing the transformation of regional accessibility and spatial equity within the healthcare delivery system. Methodologically, a dual spatial analysis framework is employed: a GIS-based OD Matrix analysis to measure physical connectivity via road networks, and the Enhanced 2-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) model to assess potential spatial accessibility by accounting for the supply-demand interaction between hospital capacity and population distribution. Additionally, the Gini Coefficient is utilized to quantify the reduction of spatial disparities in healthcare resource distribution. The analysis demonstrates that the strategic placement of the National Fire Hospital significantly improves physical accessibility, effectively integrating Chungbuk Innovation City (Maengdongmyeon, Eumseong-gun; Deoksan-eup, Jincheon-gun) and its surrounding settlements into the hospital’s service catchment area. Furthermore, substantial spatial spillover effects were observed, expanding the accessible service area to include neighboring Jeungpyeong-gun and parts of Goesan-gun. Significantly, the reduction in the province-wide Gini Coefficient confirms that the new facility functions as a regional anchor, correcting the structural imbalance of medical resources. These findings underscore that the spatial allocation of public infrastructure is a critical determinant in enhancing settlement conditions and fostering balanced regional development.