Table of Contents
- Busan Station, starting with a different first impression… turning into a street people want to walk again with ‘Emptying City’
- Removal of obstacles in the city center, transformation into a pedestrian-centered city
- Kiosks and monuments will be relocated, taxi stands will transform into small parks
- Citizen-centered urban spaces begin at Busan Station
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Busan Station, starting with a different first impression… turning into a street people want to walk again with ‘Emptying City’
The area around Busan Station is undergoing significant changes. The city of Busan is starting the 'Emptying City Pilot Project' on June 12, and plans to complete it by September. This project aims to restore pedestrian rights and improve the urban landscape beyond mere maintenance.
In order to provide a better walking environment for citizens and tourists visiting Busan Station Plaza and nearby areas, about 700 meters of the area will see the removal and integration of 82% of the 312 public facilities.
This project is part of the 'Big Design Project Busan' announced last November, showing the city's commitment to radically change the first impression of the city. We hope these changes will positively impact the future of Busan.
Removal of obstacles in the city center, transformation into a pedestrian-centered city
The area of approximately 700 meters of Busan Station Plaza and the pedestrian path in front of the station has been selected as a major target for this Emptying City Pilot Project. Despite being a key route that about 300,000 rail users pass through daily, the walking environment was very poor.
A variety of facilities, including flowerbeds, taxi stands, signboards, advertisements, fences, and bollards, were causing significant discomfort for pedestrians. Especially, the excessive number of facilities compared to the width of the sidewalk was preventing the plaza from serving its original function properly.
To address these issues, Busan City is promoting the 'Emptying City' project and has completed the basic and detailed design in cooperation with 25 relevant organizations since September last year. In this process, the decision was made to improve 82% of the remaining 381 out of 560 public facilities, excluding 179. This aims to provide a better environment for pedestrians.
Kiosks and monuments will be relocated, taxi stands will transform into small parks
Changes at Busan Station Plaza are notable. First, facilities such as the tourist information center, kiosks, and monuments that were scattered in the center will be relocated to other areas. Furthermore, the taxi stands that have lost their functionality will be demolished and transformed into small parks.
The area around the plaza is expected to have green spaces that can be enjoyed throughout all four seasons, and the variously designed bollards and fences will be unified in a new design. Urban infrastructure elements such as ventilation shafts and distribution boxes, which were previously scattered, will also be modified to an integrated design to emphasize the identity of the city.
Additionally, facilities with similar functions such as CCTVs, streetlights, traffic lights, and signposts will be integrated for maintenance that considers both aesthetics and efficiency. These changes will contribute to making Busan Station Plaza a more attractive space.
Citizen-centered urban spaces begin at Busan Station
The city of Busan aims to go beyond simple demolition work with this project, holding a long-term vision for improving pedestrian environments and enhancing the city's brand image.
Busan Station is a crucial space for visitors to the city, influencing Busan's first impression. Through the Emptying City Pilot Project, the original functions of public spaces will be restored, and there is a high possibility of future expansions to other areas.
The shift towards "a city with a safe and pleasant walking environment" that Busan is pursuing is just at the starting point.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the Busan Station Emptying City Pilot Project?
It is a large-scale maintenance project aimed at improving the walking environment and urban landscape around Busan Station.
The Busan Station Emptying City Pilot Project targets the Busan Station Plaza and a 700-meter area nearby, seeking to recover pedestrian rights and enhance the urban landscape by removing and integrating 82% of public facilities. Set to begin on June 12, 2024, and complete by September, it embodies the city's commitment to dramatically changing Busan's first impression as part of the Big Design Project.
Q. What changes will occur in Busan Station Plaza due to this project?
The relocation of kiosks and monuments, and the transformation of taxi stands into small parks will take place.
Through this project, the tourist information center, kiosks, and monuments scattered in the center of Busan Station Plaza will be relocated, and the non-functional taxi stands will be removed to turn into small parks. Additionally, a year-round green space will be developed, and facilities such as bollards and fences will be unified in design. Infrastructure like ventilation shafts and distribution boxes will be redesigned to strengthen the identity of the city, transforming the plaza into a more pleasant and attractive space.
Q. Why is Busan City promoting the Emptying City Project?
The aim is to improve the walking environment, enhance the image of Busan City, and create citizen-centered spaces.
Busan City recognizes that Busan Station is a critical place influencing the first impression of Busan for visitors to the city. Therefore, it aims to provide a safe and pleasant walking environment for citizens and tourists, enhance the city's brand image, and restore the original functions of public spaces under a long-term vision through the Emptying City Project. This project also holds potential for future expansion to other areas, serving as a starting point for innovation in Busan's urban spaces.
Q. How will public facilities change due to the Emptying City Project?
Unnecessary facilities will be removed, similar function facilities will be integrated, and design will be unified.
Within the 700-meter area around Busan Station, 82% of the 312 public facilities will be targeted for removal and integrated maintenance. Various facilities, such as flowerbeds, signboards, advertisements, fences, and bollards, have been excessively installed, causing discomfort to pedestrians. This work will efficiently integrate similar facilities like CCTVs, streetlights, traffic lights, and signposts, while unifying their design to improve both the aesthetics and functionality of the city.