studio_GAON designs sinjinmal building in south korea

studio_GAON designs sinjinmal building in south korea
photo © youngchae park
all images courtesy of studio_GAON

studio_GAON has completed their design for the ‘sinjinmal building’ in incheon, south korea. since the client didn’t specify any particular programs for the structure, the architects were given a fair amount of freedom to create what ever they could envision on the narrow 4-by-20 meter site. located along a busy street next to lumber mills, factories, and apartments, what transpired is a long, slender building that respectfully relates to its surrounding context.

the north façade faces the land of the existing family and residential areas
photo © youngchae park

since the south façade associates itself with the nearby industrial areas, views are blocked off with a minimal amount exterior glazing to provide privacy for the inhabitants. simultaneously to the north, mass amounts of windows bring sunlight into the structure facing the land of the existing family and residential areas. one aspect that stands out amongst the project is the staircase that resides to the west. facing a 400-year-old traditional korean house, a series of steps jaggedly zig and zag in homage to the circulation pattern featured in the ‘sigyeongjeong pavilion’ in jeonllanam-do, south korea.

view from the northeast during the day
photo © youngchae park

on the inside and outside of the residence, calm grey hues create a continuous material aesthetic. the exterior is finished in a combination of exposed concrete and wood grain. meanwhile, the interior is finished with cement blocks and white walls. in dealing with the brief’s lack of programmatic specificity, the architects said, ‘we think the biggest characteristic of korean architecture is ‘dynamics’ by reiteration of spaces to induce dozens of layers and movements. to suggest the dynamics, we made the floor slab of the third floor like stairs. this space will be used as a public area such as a seminar room. also, we installed a huge glass door which can be raised toward the old korean house on the west. the stairs on the north side crossing the curtain wall was painted in gaudy red. that line is suggesting past, present, and future alterations.’

a traditional korean gate welcomes visitors
photo © youngchae park

window detail on the south side
photo © youngchae park

view of the structure from the northeast at night
photo © youngchae park

view of the jagged steps ascending up the west side
photo © youngchae park

interior detail on the east side
photo © youngchae park

first floor interior
photo © youngchae park

second floor interior
photo © youngchae park

third floor with the west side window open
photo © youngchae park

sketch

project info:

architects: hyoungnam lim, eunjoo roh
project team: minjung choi, sangwoo yi, seongwon son, sungpil lee, hanmoe lee, haelee jung, joowon moon
photographs: youngchae park
translation: joowon moon
location: gajwa-dong, seo-gu, incheon, south korea
use: neighborhood facility
site area: 294 m²
building area: 110.70 m²
gross floor area: 217.05 m²
building scope: 3F
building-to-land ratio: 37.7%
floor area ratio: 73.8%
structure: reinforced concrete
construction: yeziin construction
finish: exposed concrete
design period: january 30, 2012 – september 30, 2012
construction period: march 11, 2013 – august 08, 2013

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.

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