Seoeunjae House

Seoeunjae House 

PLS Architects

Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon

ARCHITECTS
Pls Architects

CLIENTS
Soohyun Lee

DESIGN TEAM
Jaeyeong Woo

MANUFACTURERS
Autodesk, Jung, Adobe Systems Incorporated, Daelim, Liddel, Trimble Navigation, Withjis, Yeslighting

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Kanghee Park, Yeonjung Lee, Hyukhyu Shin

STRUCTURAL CONSULTANTS
Lotus Structure Engineers

CONSTRUCTION
Direct Construction

PHOTOGRAPHS
Joonhwan Yoon

AREA
189 M²

YEAR
2021

LOCATION
Gyeongju, South Korea

CATEGORY
Houses

Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon

Text description provided by architect.

Experience a cozy space designed exclusively for family bonding at Seoeunjae. Located in a quaint village near Bulguksa in Gyeongju, it offers a peaceful retreat amidst a serene countryside.

Named by a father after his three children—Seoyoung, Eunjae, and Sunjae—this place is perfect for kids to play and families to relax. It's a haven that sparks imagination, bringing a refreshing rural landscape centered around water to children who usually see only urban scenes.

Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon
Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon

DESIGN CHALLENGE

The client requested a unique and outstanding building, distinct from the recent stays emerging in Gyeongju, leveraging the architect's creativity.

Our task is to utilize the irregular site and the ordinary surrounding environment to overcome these challenges through architecture. We aim to explore how to evolve this into a differentiated space.

Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon
Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon

SELECTIVE LANDSCAPE RECEPTION IN SCULPTURAL DESIGN

The entire site is enclosed by a wall, creating a separate space that ensures privacy from the rural surroundings. Three buildings, each with a unique view of the countryside, are arranged around a central water feature.

Guests enter through a welcoming space, then proceed to 'Seojae' and 'Eunjae.' The exterior walls guiding the paths to each building selectively embrace the landscape, encouraging a leisurely exploration of varied views.

Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon
Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon

'Seojae' features an L-shaped layout designed as a continuous space, while 'Eunjae' is configured in a linear form, accommodating two families.

The sculptural design created by the structural walls and functional spaces reflects the flexibility of the paths and the dynamic experience it offers.

Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon
Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon

ALL-ENCOMPASSING CIRCULATING WATER SPACE

To create a new architectural environment, we incorporate water to form a circulating space. The water feature acts as a playground reflecting the surrounding landscape, creating a seamless connection between space and time.

The shimmering water calms visitors, allowing them to slowly take in the sounds of birds and the breeze. At the heart of 'Seojae' and 'Eunjae' is a swimming pool, measuring 8x5.5 meters, emitting a sapphire-like glow.

Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon
Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon
Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon

With a pergola system, the space offers a sunroom-like warmth year-round, and when opened on all sides, it provides expansive views.

The water feature next to the pool unifies 'Seojae' and 'Eunjae,' blending the entire site into a single cohesive space that offers diverse and unique landscapes at Seoeunjae.

Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon
Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon

REVITALIZING RURAL LANDSCAPES

We envision Seoeunjae as a cozy and warm retreat where guests can truly relax. We aim for the local villagers to continue their daily lives without inconvenience from visitors, while the guests can enjoy a unique experience with water, without disturbing the community.

We hope this space, filled with the laughter of children, will breathe new life into the rural village, fostering a harmonious coexistence.

Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon


Seoeunjae House
© Joonhwan Yoon


Seoeunjae House
Section
Seoeunjae House
Elevation


Seoeunjae House
Plan
Seoeunjae House
Plan - Site
Seoeunjae House
Section Diagram