[YONSEI NEWS] Vibrant and Dynamic Campus Environment
연세대학교 홍보팀 / news@yonsei.ac.kr
2016-11-21
Vibrant and Dynamic Campus Environment
A Greener and More Comfortable Campus
With the roads on the west side of campus now closed to vehicle traffic, students and faculty can enjoy walking safely and tranquilly between buildings. Yonsei’s vision for a carless, pedestrian-friendly campus took shape in 2012 with the beginning of the Baekyangro Renovation Project. In addition to reducing emissions, the renovation was done in order to reduce the number of accidents caused by reckless drivers taking detours through campus.
West-Side Roads Closed
With the large number of students and faculty who walk on the western side of campus, the university decided to close the roads there to vehicle traffic. For several years, members of the Colleges of Science, Life Science and Biotechnology, and Arts have been asking for west-side traffic to be regulated, specifically to prevent accidents and remove improperly parked vehicles from the road. The closure was made feasible due to the 900 parking spaces created underneath Baekyangro as part of the renovation project.
With the closing of the west-side roads to vehicles, the amount of green space and number of leisure areas have increased markedly. Students and faculty can now enjoy relaxing in several outdoor areas equipped with tables and chairs.
Public Art on Campus
-Baekyangro Filled with Artworks and Music
Yonsei held a public exhibition called “Bringing Art to Campus.”
At the opening ceremony, Yonsei President Yong-Hak Kim said: “Although Yonsei is frequently named as one of the most beautifu l campuses in South Korea, I have to admit that the campus has been lacking in artistic aspects. It is now time for Yonsei to commit its resources to adding more artworks, such as statues, art installations, and sculptures. I hope these carefully selected works of art will make Yonsei more vibrant and vivid.”
Man-lin Choi’s “Encountering” is now installed in Baekyangro. The sculpture depicts two people gazing at each other and is meant to symbolize the theme of reunion. In 1998, the class of 1969 donated the work to the university to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of their graduation.
Along with the relocation of Choi’s statue, a number of other works are currently on display in Baekyangro.
The art installations include SoA’s “25 Stairs” and OBBA’s “The Oasis.” “25 Stairs” is composed of mirrors of different heights and other materials to create a singular aesthetic; in particular, the sculpture can be used as a chair, allowing people to sit on and interact with the piece. “The Oasis”is made of curtain threads and emphasizes fluidity and crossing boundaries. The threads create an optical illusion, making it seem as though the work is continually opening and closing off space.
<The Oasis> <25 Stairs>
In addition to the public art project, the university frequently plays host to and broadcasts music concerts performed in the Kumho Art Hall.