studio_GAON uses 300,000 bricks to construct the jetavana buddhist temple in south korea

studio_GAON has completed the design of ‘jetavana buddhist temple‘, situated in the south korean town of gangchon. the brief from the client posed the challenge of creating a building for buddhists to stay, that would embody the main principles and original values of the religion. with this in mind, the concept behind the resulting scheme therefore intended to form an architecture that combines modern lifestyles with traditional buddhist doctrines.

image © yongkwan kim (main image © youngchae park)

the jetavana temple designed by GAON forms part of the larger ‘seon (zen) center’ complex. situated on the mountainous site there are separate buildings for meditation and asceticism. the program for this new intervention therefore only required private accommodation to be formed, referred to as the ‘kuti’. the plan for the center as a whole splits various functions into different structures, while maintaining a connection between each by the external landscaping design. the greater scheme embraces ideas of buddhist architecture by forming a ‘process’ from one place to another, as if embarking upon a journey to reach somewhere. this idea is embodied by the numerous paths that populate the site area.

image © yongkwan kim

the construction utilizes a concrete primary structure with cladding in red brick (300,000 bricks in total), resulting in a uniform and minimal architectural expression, and directly referring to the buddhist ideas of asceticism. the structures are formed from rectilinear volumes, resembling a series of blocks on the site. due to the topography of the site, raised areas have also been formed to create a sense of hierarchy. the temple office (jongmuso), private accommodation (kuti), temple house (yosache) and buddhist sanctuary have been positioned in order of importance. in essence, the finished center provides a place for buddhists to find a meditative sanctuary in the beautiful mountain setting.

image © youngchae park

image © youngchae park

image © youngchae park

image © youngchae park

image © youngchae park

image © yongkwan kim

image © yongkwan kim

image © yongkwan kim

image © yongkwan kim

image © youngchae park

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project info:

project name: ‘jetavana buddhist temple’

project location: gangchon, south korea

architect: studio GAON

photography: yongkwan kim, youngchae park

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: lynne myers | designboom