bcho architects associates clads house in seoul in a sheer metal screen

bcho architects associates covered the gugi-dong house in seoul, south korea, with a punctured metal mesh that gives an ethereal quality, ventilation and brings light to the residence. the project site is surrounded by buildings on all sides, except where it is flanked by a large stone reinforcement wall along its backside. because the ground floor lacked conditions for natural ventilation and lighting, the focus of the project shifted towards optimizing the top floor, comprised of a large outdoor deck and one small room. unburdened by perimeter walls, the deck allows those who find their way to it to enjoy the full panoramic view towards bukhan mountain. 

all images © sergio pirrone

bcho architects kept the finishes raw yet contemporary, recurring to a material palette of metals, rough concrete and light wood. a clear pvc sheet roofing allows the surrounding forest scenery and sunlight to extend deep indoors. underneath the pvc sheet, a layer of expanded metal breaks and softens the incoming sunlight. 

the residence was laid out and organized to suit the client’s specific needs. there are three bedrooms in the house: one for the couple, and the remaining two for each of their children. each is placed side by side on the second floor, allowing for all three rooms to share a common uninhabited view towards the mountain.the couple also requested a private bath, an intimate space for relaxation. compared to the permanency of these interventions, the rooms for their children were built more informally, divided by a non-bearing wall with the possibility of future expansion.

with the incredible panoramic views provided by the site to look out onto the nearby mountains, the third floor terrace serves multiple terraces. the terrace can function as an informal family gathering space, and doubles in its ability to host casual business meetings as necessitated by the client’s lifestyle. the main structure, made in reinforced concrete, is hinted at in the building’s interior finish. 

taking advantage of the external insulation system, the exposed concrete is consistently used as an annotation of the home’s interior walls. this serves both an aesthetic ends while minimizing the burden of additional interior finishing costs on the project’s budget. externally, a screen façade and ample insulation achieve thermal efficiency and sustainability. The result is a compact yet highly personalized and functional three-story residence, suitable for the family for years to come.

project info:

design: bcho architects associates

location: 226-37, gugi-dong, jongno-gu, seoul, korea

site area: 274 m²

built area: 101.2 m²

completion date: september 2018

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom