Boundaries Architects

Bukchon House

Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel

Bukchon House

Boundaries Architects

LEAD ARCHITECT
Kim Youn Soo

CONSTRUCTION
Solheim Construction

MEP & HVAC CONSULTANT
Jung Yon Engineering

STRUCTURE ENGINEERING
Eden Structure Consultant

DESIGNERS
Dayoung, Kim Eunsol

PHOTOGRAPHS
Hwang, Hyochel

AREA
197 m²

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
South Korea

CATEGORY
Coffee Shop, Houses, Adaptive Reuse

The boundary between the Traditional and Modern

This project started with a plan to develop an old store on the Jae-dong 45-9 plot, which served as a road crossing for the 46-5 plot.

Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel
Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel

The contextual constraints meant that any proposal on site could be a maximum of 12 meters high consisting of 4 floors - the site sits adjacent to the Hanok (traditional Korean) conservation area.

The initial intent was to preserve the Hangganchae located in the alley, constrained from the existing Hanok form resembling an Hangeul ‘ㄷ’, and to expand Bukchon-ro 4gil with a new building in the former garden area.

Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel
Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel

As requested by Hanok Conservation District, Seoul City, and Jongno-gu, it was adjusted to preserve and expand the Hanok as much as possible.

Conserve, grow

In order to secure the remaining Hanok, a hybrid extension was made by combining a new building with the remaining Hanok with the shape of Hangeul ‘ㄴ’.

Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel
Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel

The new building would be separate, but connected and unified by the collective envelope.

The garden space of the former Hanok was enhanced into a shared zone between the traditional and the modern house.

Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel
Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel
Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel

Two harmonizing halves: reflection and illusion

 The traditional Hanok and the new expansion form an internal space that reads as if they are two pieces of a greater whole.

This is concealed in the unified facade and can only be understood from the internal space.

The fusion of two opposing languages entices curiosity and intrigue.

Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel
Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel
Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel

The tiled roof and the inverted landscape reflected by the mirror varisole at the bottom of the filotti feel like a passage to another world.

The reflected Hanok in the internal mirrored facade of the new superimposes the viewer into rich cultural timelines.

Introduction of Yangok (Modern architecture) into the Hanok

To pay homage to the Hanok massing, the program and area requirements would have to adjust to fit beneath a 12m height cap.

Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel
Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel
Bukchon House
© Hwang, Hyochel

This presented a challenge in sectional planning; our solution was to create an additional level to accommodate the desired spaces of the Yangok.

The staggered section puzzles together every piece of space, optimizing the mass to provide all the areas available.


Bukchon House
Plan - Site
Bukchon House
Plan - Ground Floor
Bukchon House
Plan - 1st Floor
Bukchon House
Plan - 2nd Floor
Bukchon House
Plan - 3rd Floor
Bukchon House
Plan - Roof Floor


Bukchon House
East Elevation
Bukchon House
North Elevation
Bukchon House
South Elevation
Bukchon House
West Elevation


Bukchon House
Section 01
Bukchon House
Section 02
Bukchon House
Section 03
Bukchon House
Section 04
Bukchon House
Section 05

Boundaries Architects
T +82 2 5672012 F +82 2 5673012
Boundaries Architects
Yeoksam-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea