Cracker

English description provided by the architects.

Aerial photographs by Kim Han-Yong from the same year show the Han River area still largely undeveloped, while the city, under its push for rapid construction, was beginning to transform the urban landscape at an unprecedented pace.

The history of the building over the past five decades is unclear, but its condition today is severely deteriorated.

Four of its eight columns extended beyond the site boundary, and what is now a four-story structure began as a modest two-story building on independent foundations.

CONSTRAINTS AND APPROACH

While new construction might have been a more efficient choice structurally and technically, current building codes made it unfeasible.

Limits on floor area ratio, restrictions on use, and parking requirements left major renovation as the only option.

The main architectural tasks were to reinforce the existing foundations, remove the four columns that extended beyond the property line and rebuild them within the site, dismantle and reconstruct the structurally weak third and fourth floors, and ensure safety throughout the construction process.

TRANSFORMATION OF SINCHON

From the 1970s through the 1990s, Sinchon was a hub of cultural exchange, where university life, artists, and social movements converged to shape new ideas and creative sensibilities.

In 1991, however, when rock cafés were labeled as "decadent culture" and subject to crackdowns, the district's cultural vitality began to fade.

By the 2000s, gentrification had accelerated, bringing in large franchises and commercial complexes.

As vacancies increased, many artists and creators relocated to Hongdae, while Sinchon shifted into an area dominated by franchises and nightlife businesses.

In response, local merchants have pursued various efforts to revive the neighborhood's cultural spirit, and this project forms part of that broader attempt.

The client, having conducted business in Sinchon for many years, witnessed this transformation firsthand.

While a single building may not catalyze full-scale urban revitalization, the hope was for it to become a symbolic and tangible point of change within the district.

DESIGN METHODOLOGY

To make better use of the existing structure, two of the building's three bays were converted into interior spaces, while the remaining bay was dedicated to vertical circulation with an elevator and stairwell.

The façade design also drew on the material character of the original building, with brick used as a defining element.

The solution was a perforated brick façade, allowing natural light to filter in during the day and letting the building glow outward at night, creating a dynamic interaction between inside and outside.

For older generations, music remains an important cultural memory of Sinchon, while for younger generations, that memory has largely faded. This project explored ways to convey a sense of musical sensibility through architectural elements.

Reflecting the contemporary emphasis on visual experience, the perforated brick pattern was inspired by digital music visualizers. The intent was to leave a visual trace of Sinchon's cultural identity, preserving memory through form.

While it maintains some of the district's vibrant commercial character, the building's ordered façade and spatial clarity aim to reestablish Sinchon as a place for cultural exchange.