The design proposal for the new Agricultural Resources Management Institute in Gyeongsangbuk-do aims to provide efficient facilities that support and ease daily farming activities while, at the same time create a comfortable, healthy and distinctive architecture for the institute and its workers.
The proposal clearly divides the plot in two areas; to the east, facing the agricultural pads and fields, all facilities with direct connection to farming activities are located. These includes the “Agricultural Machinery Facility” and the “Seed Production Facility”. They are organized around the large seed drying field in a U-type configuration to facilitate the circulation of farming products and vehicles. Towards the West of the plot, the office, welfare facilities and the history museum are located. Between the east and west facilities, a dense area of trees and low plantations provides a transition zone between office-welfare and agricultural activities. This area of vegetation has an important role to minimize high temperatures during the summer creating a fresh microclimate with the help of the trees and the water ponds. Benches, pergolas and other resting areas will be located under the trees for the use of workers.
The distinction of two areas within the plot responds also to a safe and efficient circulation strategy that minimize unnecessary crossings between farming-related circulations and workers-visitors’ movements. There is also a subtle separation between visitors and workers so that the Institute’s workers are not distracted by the whereabouts of visitors.
Though there are distinctive uses and space requirements among the various buildings that conform the Institute’s facilities, all of them are consistently interconnected by a common architectural language that reflects the local and traditional agricultural construction of the region. Pitched metal roofs on timber truss and brick bearing walls are reinterpreted in a contemporary manner for the new design of the Institute. Each building reflects its own “typology adaptation” depending on the inclination of the roof, interior height clearance needed or the orientation of the building.
The proposal is built predominantly in timber and emphasizes prefabrication construction methods to minimize costs, emissions and other impacts around the construction site.
