Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport shares case studies with local governments

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has selected best practices for revitalizing shared community facilities in apartment complexes. The photo shows an apartment complex that converted a cooking studio into a dining facility.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has selected best practices for revitalizing shared community facilities in apartment complexes. The photo shows an apartment complex that converted a cooking studio into a dining facility.

An apartment complex that converted an underused squash court into a music room and table tennis hall, and another that transformed an outdoor badminton court into a landscaped garden to support the health and leisure needs of elderly residents, are among the complexes recognized as best-practice cases for shared community facilities.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Wednesday it will distribute a collection of best-practice case studies to local governments and others. The studies are based on on-site inspections of 226 apartment complexes nationwide conducted from September last year through May, aimed at boosting usage of shared community facilities and fostering a sense of community.

The best practices are organized around three spatial approaches to revitalizing shared facilities: improving a space without changing its designated use, converting a space to a new designated use, and adapting an existing space for multiple uses.

Among cases involving space improvements without a change of use, one complex recognized that its first-floor multipurpose lounge was suited for hydroponic cultivation, installed a smart farm and offered the produce to residents free of charge. Another upgraded the interior of an existing cooking studio, made use of its existing kitchen equipment and hired dedicated staff to provide a breakfast service.

A complex that expanded its senior lounge beyond a simple rest area — offering programs such as non-medical health checkups and cultural classes, and opening the space to residents outside the complex — was also selected as a best-practice case.

Jang Woo-cheol, the ministry's housing policy director, said the selected cases "spell out operational models and detailed revitalization examples by category, covering everyday convenience, sports and healthcare, and education and childcare." He added that he hoped the examples would "provide practical guidance for transforming neglected spaces within apartment complexes into resident-tailored spaces."


smh@heraldcorp.com