KJCKorea
Journal Central

Purpose: To identify co-environmental design elements that most effectively promote intergenerational exchange in super-aged societies by comparing four communities: Share Kanazawa, Kinmokusei Urayasu, Kozenji (Japan), and the Hwacheon Community Center (South Korea). Methods: A multiple-case study collected spatial plans, operational documents, and field-observation records. Data were qualitatively coded using a three-layer typology—hardware (physical environment), humanware (people and operations), and contentware (programs)—and examined through dual lenses of physical and social integration, followed by cross-case comparison. Results: Three common antecedents emerged: (1) barrier-free circulation with open, flexible shared spaces grounded in universal design; (2) multifunctional programs supported by community facilitators that encourage voluntary, cross-generational interaction; and (3) hybrid governance in which residents, private actors, and public entities share roles and responsibilities. Differences appeared in governance models—welfare-foundation-led in Japan versus public–resident governance in South Korea—and in program orientation, with care-focused content (Share Kanazawa, Kinmokusei Urayasu) versus experiential/cultural content (Kozenji, Hwacheon). Implications: Findings yield actionable guidelines for planning intergenerational communities and building sustainable operating models across urban and rural contexts, underscoring the importance of inclusive spatial design, multifunctional programming, and collaborative governance.

Purpose: This study aims to identify the importance of building service space planning in securing spatial flexibility within general hospitals in response to changes in medical environments and societal demands. Hospitals undergo continuous expansion and remodeling due to advances in medical technology, regulatory shifts, and evolving patient needs, with service spaces playing a critical role in the reallocation and expansion of internal functions. Focusing on the National Cancer Center and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital—both of which have experienced large-scale extensions and comprehensive restructuring—this research analyzes the changes in air handling units and utility shafts, and their relationship to internal space reorganization. The ultimate goal is to derive planning strategies for service spaces that enhance adaptability and support functional modifications in future hospital designs. Methods: This study analyzes two general hospitals that underwent large-scale extensions and restructuring, examining changes in AHUs and utility shafts to assess their impact on spatial flexibility. Results: The conclusions of this study are as follows: First, to secure spatial flexibility within hospitals, service spaces should be recognized and planned as fixed elements from the initial design stage. Second, vertical shafts should be concentrated near staircases, elevators, and public corridors to minimize the scope of modifications during future departmental rearrangements. Third, adopting a one-floor-one-AHU system allows functional changes through simple duct extensions or reductions without additional vertical shafts. Finally, utilizing dry areas or external piping reduces the footprint of internal service spaces and secures usable floor area, forming a key strategy for flexible adaptation to future hospital expansions or functional changes. Implications: In the initial hospital design, it is possible to plan a spatial structure that allows flexible departmental arrangements and enables adaptable internal modifications during large-scale remodeling.

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the system and operation of the UK's Design Quality Indicator for Health (DQIfH) as an advanced case of healthcare facility design quality management and to present implications for its application in Korea. Methods: This study was conducted through literature analysis. Official materials from the Construction Industry Council (CIC), which established and operates DQIfH, were primarily analyzed, along with National Health Service (NHS) guidelines and academic papers. Results: The UK's DQIfH functions not merely as an evaluation indicator but as a 'learning tool' that serves as a collaborative platform where stakeholders participate to systematically review and improve design quality. Key features include: first, institutional support through integration with NHS business case processes; second, management throughout the entire project lifecycle; third, standardized evaluation indicators and utilization methodologies; and fourth, a comprehensive user participation process encompassing medical staff, patients, and the local community. Implications: In order to introduce a Korean-style quality management system for medical facility design in Korea, it is necessary to first, improve social awareness of the importance of medical facility design; second, develop and institutionalize an integrated design quality management system; third, establish a quality management system throughout the entire project lifecycle; fourth, develop evaluation indicators and methodologies for medical facility design; and fifth, introduce a collaborative workshop process. Through this, it is expected that user-centered medical facility design will be realized and contribute to improving the quality of medical services.