A Study on the Expressive Characteristics of Public Facilities Considering Local Identity

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) Due to the acceleration of economic development and urbanization, many problems are occurring in local cities. It is expressed in various ways, such as population concentration and overcrowding, bipolarization between big cities and regions, damage to natural landscapes due to excessive development, and loss of unique local identity. At this point, local cities are required to find a local city image through differentiated local elements, and to find a way to establish a sustainable local identity. Therefore, this study aims to focus on the importance of local identity, to derive local identity elements and expressive characteristics, and to present the design direction of elements that can be used when applying local identity to public facilities. (Method) This study is to recognize the characteristics and design direction of public facilities considering local identity, and the scope and method of the study will be conducted as follows. In the theoretical review, it studies the concept and elements of local identity, and the characteristics of local identity based on literature review through previous studies, derives local identity elements through analysis of previous studies, based on which it aims to study the expressive characteristics of public facilities considering local identity through comparative analysis with evaluation items and elements of public facilities. (Results) Local identity elements derived through the analysis of previous studies related to regional revitalization can be categorized into five elements: historicity, culturality, landscape, industriality, and symbolism. The elements can be used in the same sense as elements used as evaluation items in the public design sector. Regional historical identity requires accessibility, landscape, sustainability, and symbolism in public design items, cultural identity requires accessibility, sustainability, symbolism, and social interaction, and landscape identity requires accessibility, safety, landscape, comfort, aesthetic, and symbolism to be expressed in public facilities. Industrial identity requires accessibility, usability, functionality, economic feasibility, constructability, and safety, and symbol identity requires accessibility, landscape, aesthetic, sustainability, and symbolism. Here, accessibility, publicity, and local identity are basically included in all elements. (Conclusions) Establishing a local identity is very important for regional revitalization in an urban environment. Local images can be expressed with unique local elements along with differentiation from other regions, through which it is possible to build regional urban competitiveness. Therefore, it should be planned to derive local identity elements and actively utilize them for local public facilities. If public facilities considering local identity are applied, it is expected to play a symbolic role by establishing a unique local image, and at the same time inspire pride in community members.