“Traditional but modern!” That was the requirement of the clients, in their thirties, who worked as authors and publishers. For a long time, successful translation of tradition expressed in a modern vocabulary has been a goal of design for Korean architects presently. That has been a very complex puzzle and a difficult problem to solve. However, it’s essential to study the heritage of tradition, since tradition could be the motive of creation.

The spatial design concept set for this small house was based on is dramatic circulation, which was characteristic of traditional architecture in Korea. The circulation of ancient Korea continues infinitely in space, overlaps and penetrates each other asymmetrically, and finally, produces several picturesque frames by surrounding nature and building.

At this time, the house has to be a shelter from the outer world. It is necessary to contact with nature which brings the urban house rich changes and variation during its life time(i.e., witnessing the blossoming and decaying of flowers). “Madang”(open court yard) was the very “nature” in ancient Korea.

Eight places of “madang” located in different levels were planned to produce attractive and interesting drama of spaces. All the major spaces of this house were designed to have a direct relationship to “madang”. Entrance  court, basement courts Ⅰ&Ⅱ, jungja(pavilion), service court, inner court, and upper court Ⅰ&Ⅱ were all the “madangs” at different levels that linked each other with both horizontal and vertical circulation. There are interesting changes, variety, through the circulation between the “madang”.

Architects: IROJE KHM Architects
Location: JangHangDong, IlSan, GoYang, Korea
Architect in Charge: HyoMan Kim
Project manager: JiWon Han
Site area: 231.6 sqm
Gloss floor area: 199.22 sqm
Photographs: YongKwan Kim

IROJE KHM Architects