Examination of Urban Gardening as an Everydayness in Urban Residential Area, Haebangchon

Abstract

This study explores urban gardening and garden culture in residential area as an everydayness that has been overlooked during the modern period urbanization and investigates the meaning and value of urban gardening from the perspective of urban formations and growth in spontaneous urban residential area, Haebangchon. The result identified that urban gardening as a meaning of contemporary culture is a new clue to improving the urban physical environment and changing the lives and community network of residents. Haebangchon is one of the few remaining spontaneous habitations in Seoul, and was created as a temporary unlicensed shantytown in 1940s. It became the representative habitation for common people in downtown Seoul through the revitalization of the 60s and the local reform through self-sustaining redevelopment projects during the 70s through the 90s. This area still contains the image of times during the 50s to the 60s, the 70s to the 80s and present, with the percentage of long-term stay residents high. Within this context, the site is divided into third quarters, and the research undertaken by observation and investigation to determine characteristics of urban gardening as an everydayness.It can be said that urban gardening and garden culture in Haebangchon is a unique location culture that has accumulated in the crevices of the physical condition and culture of life. These places are an expression of resident's desires that seeking out nature and gardening as revealed in densely-populated areas and the grounds of practical acting and participating in care and cultivation. It forms a unique, indigenous local landscape as an accumulation of everyday life of residents. Urban gardens in detached home has retained the original function of the dwelling and the garden, or 'madang', and takes on the characteristic of public space through the sharing of a public nature as well as semi-private spatial characteristic. Also, urban gardens including small kitchen garden and flowerpots that appear in the narrow streets provide pleasure as a part of nature that blossoms in narrow alley and functions as a public garden for exchanging with neighbors by sharing produce.

Analysis on the Types of Benefits of Gardens in Urban Areas: Comparison of Korea and Overseas Cases

“…These can be created as a space with an unconstrained form, familiar shape and practicality through the leisure activities of citizens (Sim and Zoh, 2015). Urban gardens involve planting various kinds of plants in the city.…”

“…They may also involve the establishment of a relevant environment in the city, comprehensively indicating that gardens form part of said city (Ernwein, 2014). Urban gardens that appear to be an efficient use of space in small land are extremely small pieces of green space that trigger interactions among local residents, building an urban image of gardens created in a complex structure (Sim and Zoh, 2015).…”

“…A connectivity assessment was conducted on green space networks by classifying the green spaces of a built-up area with high density in Korea, and it was found that green spaces in the target site were distributed in the order of street greenery, private garden, remnant vacant lot, park, and roof garden. Remnant vacant lots and street greenery were the spaces with highest potential for green corridors (Choi et al, 2017), and 20% of the cases were found in public areas of streets, following private areas inaccessible from the outside such as rooftop gardens or terraces (33%) (Sim and Zoh, 2015). This reflects the traditional view of life in streets, in which some people still extend their living space out to the streets, although this has decreased since urbanization began.…”

“…nection type (parks or public facilities).In 2014, average green area per capita of 29 OECD countries was 520.41 m 2 , with Korea ranking 26 th for green space at 57.91 m 2 per capita (United Nations Human Settlement Programmes, Global Urban Observatory, 2018). street spaces, and flexible type (76%) gardens that occupy a minimum area are found to be more common than the fixed type (21%)(Sim and Zoh, 2015) (Table5). The governance structure of urban community gardens can be clas-…”

The Influence of Urban Gardening Activities on Participants’ Perceived Restorativeness, Resilience, Sense of Community and Stress

“…The gardens in modern cities are places where ‘participation’ through ‘priming behavior’ is emphasized. City’s garden value is highlighted as a ‘place of productive function’ to grow and eat crops, an ‘alternative green’ to reduce food mileage, and a ‘place to restore community life’ [ 7 ]. It also emphasizes that an urban garden should highlight community and cultural values.…”