Layered House

Layered House
© Beezy Studio

Layered House

SMxL Architects

ARCHITECTS
Smxl Architects

LEAD ARCHITECT
Sangmin Lee

MANUFACTURERS
Dunn Edwards, Guzzini, Kohler, Marazzi, Vintage Wooden Maru, Wonil Windows

ELECTROMECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Senc

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
Archfeel Structure Engineering

CONSTRUCTION
Seono Construction

INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Ohio Company

STAFF
Jeongin Kim

PHOTOGRAPHS
Beezy Studio, Hspace

AREA
313 M²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Seodaemun-gu, South Korea

CATEGORY
Houses

Layered House
© Beezy Studio
Layered House
© Beezy Studio

Text description provided by architect.

Located at the border between Yeonhui-dong in Seodaemun-gu and Namgajwa-dong, the Layered House sits along a relatively quiet and peaceful main road.

Layered House
© HSPACE
Layered House
© Beezy Studio

The building's scale was determined by the widening of the road at a dead-end and the setback requirements due to sunlight restrictions from the north.

The client, known for their distinctive style and strong sense of individuality, envisioned a space where the light shifts throughout the day from morning to evening, filling the house and allowing family members to sense each other's presence from any corner.

Thus, the design concept focused on blurring the boundaries of spaces, enabling flexible use of areas that can be adjusted in size depending on purpose and function.

Layered House
© Beezy Studio
Layered House
© HSPACE

Instead of strictly defining areas as a 'living room' or 'hallway,' the intention was to create a collective space where living areas and passageways are subtly differentiated, forming a seamless and interconnected home.

INTENDED LIGHT, UNINTENDED LIGHT

The client wished to experience the passage of time in sync with the outside world through the constantly shifting movements of light and shadow.

Layered House
© HSPACE
Layered House
© HSPACE

To achieve this, the south-facing facade features a series of identical windows, maximizing the amount of intentional light entering the house.

Meanwhile, the side windows were arranged irregularly, allowing unintentional light to scatter throughout the space.

Layered House
© HSPACE
Layered House
© HSPACE

The design aimed not to stand out alone in the everyday neighborhood streetscape, but to blend naturally with the surrounding urban scenery.

LOOSE BOUNDARIES AND FREE FLOW

The house is composed of three floors, a fourth floor, and an attic, with an interior that avoids strict physical divisions, instead embracing spaces with loose boundaries.

Layered House
© HSPACE
Layered House
© HSPACE

These gentle boundaries make the space flexible, allowing it to flow seamlessly as one open area. From the entrance to the attic, the circulation unfolds like a leisurely stroll, and the substantial depth of the interior creates new perspectives through the solid staircase.

The wooden staircase, delicate like a sculpture, carries tranquil light down into the depths of the house, filling every corner with a soft glow.

Layered House
© Beezy Studio
Layered House
© Beezy Studio

Additionally, the repeated play of light through the windows, the furniture that defines spatial boundaries, and the carefully placed decorative items together create countless layers. In the summer, the sounds and shadows of plane tree leaves outside the window will further enrich this space.


Layered House
© Beezy Studio
Layered House
© Beezy Studio
Layered House
© HSPACE
Layered House
© Beezy Studio
Layered House
© Beezy Studio
Layered House
© Beezy Studio


Layered House
© Beezy Studio
Layered House
© HSPACE
Layered House
© HSPACE


Layered House
Section
Layered House
Section


Layered House
Elevation 01
Layered House
Elevation 02
Layered House
Elevation 03
Layered House
Elevation 04


Layered House
1st Floor Plan
Layered House
2nd Floor Plan
Layered House
3rd Floor Plan
Layered House
4th Floor Plan
Layered House
Roof
Layered House
Site Plan
Layered House
Attic Plan