Rift House

Rift House 

LJL Architects

Rift House
© Roh Kyung

ARCHITECTS
Ljl Architects

MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Taein Partners Group

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Seungjin Lee, Joohyoung Lee, Gyoungnam Kwon

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Ilu Structural Engineers

PHOTOGRAPHS
Roh Kyung

CONSTRUCTION
Jehyo

AREA
772 M²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Yongsan-gu, South Korea

CATEGORY
Office Buildings

Rift House
© Roh Kyung

The RIFT HOUSE serves as a multifaceted space for a couple with multiple children.

As recent escapees from typical apartment living, the clients sought a dwelling that would provide independent living spaces for both parents and children, as well as a shared area immersed in nature.

Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung

Situated on an urban hillside, the site boasts a majestic persimmon tree and offers sweeping views of Seoul’s Namsan Mountain to the north.

However, surrounding areas are hemmed in by narrow roads and neighboring residences, raising concerns about privacy.

Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung

To address this, the main structure was positioned along the southern road, creating an open courtyard to the north.

Various terraces and courtyards within inward-facing spaces were planned to foster an active relationship with nature.

Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung

The interior of the house is divided into distinct levels to accommodate the lives and work of the couple and their children.

Mediating spaces and voids between floors enhance communication between different areas.

The living room spans two floors, serving as a nexus that connects potentially disjointed spaces of the couple and children, while also inviting panoramic views of the surroundings into the interior.

Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung

The ground floor is designated as a buffer and utility area, while terraces and courtyards provide playful spaces for the children.

The massing is characterized by simple, monotone brickwork, projecting the program onto the facade to minimize ornamentation and invite rich visual experiences from the street.

Horizontal windows throughout the residence offer varied perspectives of the surrounding urban landscape.

Rift House
© Roh Kyung


Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung
Rift House
© Roh Kyung


Rift House
Plan - Ground floor
Rift House
Plan - First floor
Rift House
Plan - Second floor
Rift House
Plan - Third floor