– Gwangju city delegation, Benchmarking as a city of vitality in '22@Innovation District' in Spain
– Transformation into a 'livable city' through people-centered development, jobs, and industry expansion
– Seeking smart city regeneration, such as development of old frontier sites and Gwangju Station start-up belt
The city of Gwangju, which is promoting the development of the old Jeonjeon/Ilshin Textile site and the old downtown urban regeneration project, is looking for a plan to improve the quality of life for citizens by strengthening publicity in Barcelona Innovation District, Spain.
On the 23rd and 24th (local time), the Gwangju Metropolitan City delegation, including Mayor Kang Ki-jeong, benchmarked Spain's '22@Barcelona Innovation District', which is considered a world-class smart city regeneration innovation success model, and pedestrian-centered 'Ramblas Street'.
The delegation first visited the Barcelona Activa Headquarters, a local government economic development agency, and received a message from Paul Solanilk, Director of International Economic Promotion, Barcelona City Hall. '22@Plan'being introduced to '22@ Innovation District' I looked all over the place.
The delegation presented the media park square where the large chimney of the textile factory is preserved, the abandoned factory transformed into a university and library through remodeling, a green area (park) created with public contributions, a shared bicycle facility, an eco-friendly building, and the landmark Agba of 22@. I looked around the tower, etc.
◆ Smart city regeneration/innovation success model '22@Barcelona'
'22@ Innovation District'is a long-term urban regeneration project promoted by the local government of Barcelona from 2000 to 2025.
It is evaluated as a successful case of smart city regeneration that transformed a declining industrial district into an innovative district where knowledge-based industries, educational institutions, and cultural facilities coexist. In addition, while preserving historical and cultural facilities with high local conservation value, they were reborn as plazas and cultural facilities that can be used by the public, drawing attention as an eco-friendly smart city regeneration. Not only did it attract companies and university campuses, but it also revitalized the city by moving in support facilities for companies, start-ups, and jobs.
To this end, the city of Barcelona persuaded the factory owners and provided them with land development rights, such as building high-rise buildings, if they provided 30% of the area as public land. real 22@ (step 1) consists of 70% commercial facilities, 10% green space, 10% public facilities such as museums and schools, and 10% housing.
'22@ Innovation District'More than 1 companies in the fields of information and communication (IT), media, design, energy, life sciences, and medical engineering are located, and global companies are making innovative landmarks by purchasing abandoned buildings. Global higher education institutions also opened campuses and technology hubs, attracting more than 1500 students.
In addition, the 'Super Block', which is a group of nine Mansana (blocks), a symbol of Barcelona's innovation, also drew attention. The city of Barcelona, which aims to be a pedestrian-oriented road, cannot enter other vehicles except for residents' vehicles. As a super block that reduces vehicle traffic and expands public space, it is enjoying the effect of reducing carbon emissions and killing two birds with one stone, such as being a 'livable and walkable city'. The space where the car disappeared was filled with spaces that contribute to the lives of citizens, such as public rental housing, playgrounds, and cultural and artistic facilities.
Director Pau Solaniya said, “The value that Barcelona considers most important is 'human-centered'.” Spaces that are valuable as cultural heritage are preserved, but transformed into meaningful spaces that people can use. In addition to the residential conditions, the reason for Barcelona’s success is to raise the quality of life by nurturing industries through start-ups, companies, and job support,” he emphasized.
Mayor Kang emphasized that in the process of promoting urban development in Gwangju, we should specifically look for areas where Barcelona's plan to secure publicity can be applied.
◆ The space where the car disappeared is filled with a space that contributes to the lives of citizens
Ramblas Street, which runs from Plaça Catalunya to the Columbus Monument, where you can see Barcelona's 'pedestrian-centered policy' at a glance, was also impressive.
Ramblas Street was under construction to further expand the function of a pedestrian-oriented street. It is to seek a sustainable city by reducing vehicles and expanding green spaces.
The delegation walked 12 km, including Las Ramblas, to see the site of Barcelona's 'pedestrian-centered policy'. The response of citizens and tourists to this policy of Barcelona City, as well as problems such as construction of bypass roads and traffic congestion in the case of expanding the function of pedestrian-oriented roads, and whether there are any parts that can be combined with Gwangju City's urban regeneration policy, were carefully checked.
In Barcelona, we were able to see the demonstration sites of companies such as shared bicycle facilities. The city of Barcelona explained 'empirical evidence' as a basis for companies to come and grow.
We also looked at the Media Campus, the Glory Entrepreneur Center, and the business incubator, which played an important role in population growth by attracting companies and nurturing talent.
An official from the city of Barcelona explained, “Since the local government cannot do everything alone, it is important to have a symbiotic relationship that can attract people and secure publicity while guaranteeing participation and interests of the private sector.”
◆ Seeking concrete application plans for urban development in Gwangju
Gwangju City is investing in the development of the old Jeonjeon/Ilsin Textile site and the 1 trillion won Urban Regeneration New Deal project in the area of Gwangju Station. '22@ Innovation District'We plan to incorporate success stories from
The old Jeonjeon/Ilsin Textile site will be transformed into an innovative district where cultural heritage, complex shopping malls, residential complexes, and parks are in harmony. In addition, the area around Gwangju Station, which declined because the high-speed rail (KTX) did not enter, will create the largest start-up complex in the Honam region. An energy self-sufficient smart city for RE100 carbon neutrality will be built in the old downtown area of Dong-gu.
Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jeong said, “The future of a city greatly depends on what values are put into the city. It is most important to create a sustainable city by securing publicity that puts people first, such as pedestrian-centeredness and green space expansion,” he said. As much as possible, we will find specific ways to apply Barcelona’s success story to Gwangju.”
(General Director of New Vitality, 613-1520)