The Gatehouse

THE GATEHOUSE

Rubrics Architects

The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon

MANUFACTURERS
Hanssem, Daegun Ceramic, Hyosung Tech, Lg Whisen

DESIGN TEAM
Jin Kim, Thomas Tighe, Youngwoo Suh, Valentin Van Beek

ENGINEER
Dongyang Consulting Engineers

PHOTOGRAPHS
Byungchul Jeon

AREA
258 m²

YEAR
2017

LOCATION
Siheung-si, South Korea

CATEGORY
Restaurant

The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon

Text description provided by architect.

The Gatehouse is home to a family run Shabu Shabu restaurant in Siheung-Si, near Seoul. The form of the building is taken from an existing disused natural water well on site.

The water well is also incorporated into the functionality, where it is used to provide water throughout the building, as well as irrigation for the restaurants on site micro-farm.

The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon
The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon

The Clients grew up near the site and recall their family using the natural well during their childhood.

After spending most of their working lives in Seoul their dream was to move back and create a restaurant which provided the local community with home grown produce.

The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon
The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon

Historically, the natural water well was used by the locals and served as a central meeting point for the community, but became disused once running water was provided in years past.

With this in mind, the design approach was to re-establish the well by using it as an aesthetic cue and also to incorporate it in a practical sense.

The building is formed with three masses. These are positioned carefully into the landscape and within the retaining walls which frame the sites sloping topography.

The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon
The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon
The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon

The lower volume in closest proximity to the water well is a glass transparent lightweight box, which conveys water. The two solid concrete volumes take vessel like forms.

The first one provides the ‘serviced area’ and is finished in timber board exposed concrete. This volume is where customers are served, with the seating, dining area and lounge.

The other solid concrete form is the ‘service area’ which is purposely finished in traditional exposed concrete formwork to differentiate itself from the other volumes.

The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon
The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon
The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon

This space is where the kitchen, plant, WC, storage areas, and services are positioned.

To highlight the water well, a connection was formed from the existing well, which brings the water through to a viewable chamber now located in the external terrace, under the 4.7m long cantilever.

An exposed trench which is positioned at the foot of the retaining walls shows this diversion of water to the chamber.

This also acts as a water store which is used to transfer the water for use back through the building.

The Gatehouse
© Byungchul Jeon


The Gatehouse
Ground Floor Plan
The Gatehouse
First Floor Plan


The Gatehouse
Site Plan
The Gatehouse
Waterwell Sketch
The Gatehouse
Axonometric Diagram


The Gatehouse
Section A
The Gatehouse
Section B
The Gatehouse
Section C
The Gatehouse
Section D


The Gatehouse
Elevation A
The Gatehouse
Elevation B
The Gatehouse
Elevation C
The Gatehouse
Elevation D