archiworkshop's 'red square house' features two windowless brick-clad façades

designed by archiworkshop to house three generations of a family — grandparents, a young couple and their children — the ‘red square house’ is located in the seoul suburb of bucheon, in an area called GgaChiWool. in a community known for residential housing, the site was appealing to the family for its low-rise architecture, quiet footpaths and quiet gardens. because of their living situation however, the clients wanted a home that would deviate from the cookie cutter design of its neighbours, comfortably accommodating both the young family and the elderly grandparents. 

the site was appealing to the family for its low-rise architecture, quiet footpaths and quiet gardens

with a total floor area of 220 meters squared, the ‘red square house’ plays out over three levels, existing both as a single cohesive structure and as a pair of co-existing residences. with the ground floor reserved for the grandparents, the family home is comprised of the upper two levels and roof terrace. clad in white and wood, the simplistic design of the first floor encompasses a kitchen, living room, master bedroom, toilet and laundry room, with access to the back garden. a wood clad staircase leads to the second level, allowing the children to visit their grandparents below without leaving the house.

the house plays out over 3 levels, functioning both as a single cohesive program and as a pair of co-existing residences

upstairs, the family home extends over two levels. on the second level sits the living and kitchen space, with master bedroom and children’s room concealed behind sliding door panels. a balcony leads off the living room to overlook the south facing view, while on the third floor a library and recreational space leads onto the full sized roof-terrace. ‘it is a place where the privacy of each other is protected but at the same time the children can freely go through’, explain archiworkshop, who were keen to create separate, defined living spaces without dividing the family. 

archiworkshop subvert the common building material, turning it into the red square house’s defining feature

one of the house’s most eye-catching features are its windowless street facing elevations. white stucco-flex was used to form the basic mass, which was then clad in red brick tiles. using the tiles to bracket the design of the house, archiworkshop subverted the common building material, turning it into the red square house’s defining feature. ‘the joint color was similar to the brick color, which gives an impression of dansaekhwa (monochrome) of korea’, explains the studio. ‘red square house has the identity of the house through this elevation.’

a simple, unhurried aesthetic is evident throughout

the third floor library and living space opens onto a full sized roof terrace 

diagram of the house’s three levels

legend

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edited by: peter corboy | designboom