Suyu House




Nestled in the historic northern expanse of Seoul, surrounded by a breathtaking mountain range, Suyu House stands as an intriguing blend of two primary materials: wood and concrete. Conceived as a dual residence to cater to the preferences of two owners, Suyu House accommodates a small publishing office on one side and a single-person household on the other. Despite its modest 117㎡ plot, each house in this twin entanglement comprises two rooms and two bathrooms, showcasing a vertically integrated living space and an adjacent kitchen within a compact 97㎡interior, respectively.  


Departing from conventional urban housing practices that often feature vertically stacked units, the construction of Suyu House aimed to introduce a new set of organization. Although the initial intent was to preserve Seoul's existing urban fabric, advocating against extensive demolition and reconstruction, the extremely dilapidated state of the original structure necessitated a reevaluation. The focus then shifted towards properly integrating a new design into the existing urban context, respecting limitations and transforming them into design benefits. Creatively interpreting building codes and optimizing local craftsmanship, the project prioritized the vertical integration of twin houses and the assembly of wood and concrete whose interpenetrations redefine the spatial organization of urban housing: fully separated but tightly united.


Oxymoronic as it may sound - integrated and independent- Suyu House introduces an unconventional arrangement of interior space, blending traditional Korean "Bangs" (adopting basic Korean room typology) crafted from the city’s culture of wood construction with an open concrete structure serving as an above-ground infrastructure. This hybridization reflects a practical response to real-world challenges in Seoul, embodying a loose-fit and pragmatic approach to interior organization. It underscores the revitalization of hands-on learning in wood construction, coinciding with the rapid shifts in local craftsmanship, labor dynamics, and short-term market conditions in this material.


The material choice of wood and concrete also addresses contemporary concerns, such as climate change and resource depletion. Suyu House places a strong emphasis on a nuanced approach to building materials carefully chosen for their climatic performance. The compatibility of wood and concrete is enhanced by layering them as a vertical assembly, with wood framing and plywood sheathing serving as elements for the small structures of Bangs. This design choice distances itself from perceiving wood as an overall structural replacement material, such as CLT or Glulam. Instead, concrete, acting as a bare structure to support the wooden infills of Bang, is used minimally. This combination creates layers within the building envelope, resulting in multiple thermal performances, with observed temperature variations of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius.


Navigating the challenges of non-isolated thermodynamic performance, especially amid Seoul's severe and unpredictable climate changes, Suyu House experiments with varied and adaptable interiors, aligned with the city's climate fluctuations ranging from -15 degrees Celsius in winter to 35 degrees Celsius in summer. By integrating traditional wisdom embedded in wood material and rejecting modernist ideological roots often associated with reinforced concrete and the Mediterranean climate, Suyu House envisions a resilient building culture distinct from the rampant pouring of concrete into the massive redevelopment of numerous apartment complexes in Seoul.






SUYU HOUSE 

Year : 2023 

 Location : Insubong-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, Korea 

 Program : Office & Housing Architecture : DoSeeRock 

Architecture (Jung In Kim) 

 photographs : Tae Yoon Kim

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