Project Credits & Specs:
- Architects: HyoMan Kim – IROJE KHM Architects
- Design Team: Kyung Jin-Jung, SeungHee-Song, SuKyung-Jang, JiYeon-Kim, EunJin-Sin, HyeJin-Kim, WooSin-Sim
- Photographs: Sergio Pirrone, Jong Oh Kim, Jeong Sik Mun
- Location: Bundang-gu, Sungnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
- Building Area: 320 m²
- Contractor: JEHYO
- Structure: Concrete Rahmen
- Exterior finishing: Black zinc plate, white stucco, exposed concrete
- Interior finishing: Lacquer, wood flooring, perforated steel plate
About 20 years ago, the government held “the housing expo” in Gangnam and constructed this “expo town” of low-rise residences, and every site in this town was designed by selected architects who had been famous in Korea at that time.
The site of “GaOnJai” was one of this monumental town, but the owner of this house who purchased the house of this site has built, newly, after tearing down the old house of this site.
Useful land-use, ecology
To maximize the efficiency of land use, to be ecological spaces were important requirements, because the owner thought the exterior spaces of the demolished old houses were narrow and useless and circumstance of inner spaces were dark and blue.
Introvert space
To keep privacy and security, to block noise, smoke, and other’s eye, an introverted layout of this house was required.
Absorbing the landscape of the surrounding mountain
The living room which has a dynamic, picturesque view of the landscape near the mountain had been required.
The house which has its own Identity in Korean culture has been required because I think this town is the representative town of desirable planned residences in Korea.
By introducing “Madang” which is the Korean inner court, we have solved the requirement of introvert space, ecological environment, and useful outdoor space and have got nature which has a healthy, live environment and landscape.
By introducing “Ru” which is Korean-piloted architecture, we absorbed the dynamic and picturesque landscape of the near mountain, according to turn the axis of mass of the living room to the top of the surrounding mountain.
The void space under “Ru” is the beginning of the approach part of a dramatic sequence of strolling course in spaces of this house, like a cave.
The void space under “Ru” is the beginning of the approach part of a dramatic sequence of strolling course in spaces of this house, like a cave.
By introducing the curved “Cheoma” which is a cantilevered roof of Korea for the floating roof of this house, we got, not only the resistance to rough weather conditions but also, revive the traditional language of architecture in the translated language in modern.
By introducing an oval patterned concrete wall which was derived from the traditional stone walls, we expected it would be a reminder of the past.
By adapting to the topography of the existing site, lower Madang, and higher Madang, various skip-floored inner spaces were designed at different levels each other and they produced interesting routes of stroll in every place of this house.
This natural adaptation to nature has been the basic character of the Korean culture of architecture.
All the program of spaces of this house were laid out as the touring course that has the dramatic interest of “strolling” through the inside and outside of this house, visually and spatially.
Thereby we expect the living in this house will not be tired for a long time by giving enjoy of strolling in their own world.
The description is provided by the architects.
