Gwangju Folly

In the architectural sense, a “folly” means an architecture that plays a decorative role after losing its original function. However, Gwangju Folly refers to architectures that contribute to urban regeneration, playing both decorative and functional roles in public spaces.

“Folly” used to mean decorative, functionless architectures in the European mansion gardens, mostly in the U.K and France. However, after the Swedish architect, Bernard Tschumi, installed 35 architectural structures in La Villette park in France, the word “folly” became well-known to the world with its contemporary meaning. The park offers things to research, observe and see to both the general public and experts through multiple follies, and encourages interaction between visitors and the park; it is the mission of Gwangju Folly.

Rather than operating as individual urban architectures, Gwangju Folly will exercise its influence through unified patterns. The new follies, to be located within the city, are designed to achieve urban regeneration by providing a cultural rebirth to the old downtown area, which has been plagued by a phenomenon of “hollowing out” after 40 years of rapid industrial growth.