Saekdong House occupies the centre of a residential block in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul, where plots of around 330m2 line the streets. The project renovates and extends an aging house built in 1968 on a site of approximately 165m2. The house only reveals itself after one passes along the long, narrow entrance sequence within the site. Although the original house was single-storey, its floor was raised well above the ground and its ceiling height exceeded that of a typical house. This was likely an attempt to secure a little more sunlight and views despite the disadvantage of being buried within the middle of the block. To prevent leaks, a thick pitched roof was added over the original flat roof. The house seemed to stand on tiptoe with its neck outstretched, its oversized roof hovering above like tousled hair after sleep.

Reference Line, Section, Sequence: Hyunjoon Yoo + HYP Architects

 

Thanks to the digital environment, we can now easily access knowledge and information anytime, anywhere. So what significance do public libraries have today? They act as a living room for everyone—a place where anyone can stay, relax, and create memories for free. Hence, we wanted Gochang public library to be more than just a facility for storing books; we sought to create a public living room where people, nature, and everyday life seamlessly blend into a single landscape. Above all, we wanted the building to reflect the landscape of Gochang where history and nature coexist. By drawing inspiration from traditional Korean timber architecture, we incorporated a heavy timber frame structure and created a strikingly open space to make it a public landmark that would draw visitors to Gochang.

Reference Line, Section, Sequence: Hyunjoon Yoo + HYP Architects

 

The OAR Contemporary Art Museum (hereinafter OAR) is located on the edge of Daereungwon Ancient Royal Tombs (hereinafter Daereungwon), which is adjacent to the Ancient Tombs in Noseo-ri, Gyeongju—a cluster of Silla royal tombs dating back 1,500 years. While these royal tombs are human-made structures, their gentle, grass-covered earthen mounds have become part of nature over the course of time. Amid this landscape, where the boundary between nature and artificiality has blurred, we sought to propose architecture not merely as a structure overlooking Daereungwon but as a device that guides visitors toward a new way of experiencing it. The site is located within a Historical and Cultural Environment Preservation District which imposed restrictions requiring a maximum height of 12m and a sloped roof. Instead of a conventional gable roof, we twisted the axis of the slope to create a form where two roofs interlock, much like folded paper. This twist lends a new character to the exterior and creates varying ceiling heights inside the exhibition hall, thereby transforming the spatial experience.

Reference Line, Section, Sequence: Hyunjoon Yoo + HYP Architects

 

Our process involves defining a problem; once we solve it, the design is complete. But I guess what we define as problems can change considering how environments and conditions shift with the times. Regarding what I said earlier that programmes should evolve along with the changing society, the Gochang Hwang Yunseok Library (hereinafter Gochang Library) is a good example. While past libraries were solemn, quiet spaces centred on information and packed with books, we thought it more important to have modern libraries function as the ‘city’s living room’. In the past, libraries would have been designed to minimise sunlight and maximise storage capacity for the sake of book preservation and management. Instead, we adopted a new perspective: the entire façade is clad in glass to ensure unobstructed views, and the space functions as a large, open area that seamlessly connects the interior and exterior.

 

The possibilities for openness do not end with the library. The FRAME section of the SPACE August issue introduces the work of Hyunjoon Yoo (Hongik University) + HYP Architects (Jon Jiyoung), whose projects engage with place, people, and nature in a variety of ways. The OAR Contemporary Art Museum embraces the landscape of royal Silla tombs in Gyeongju; the Gochang Hwang Yunseok Library aspires to be a shared living room for all; the Musical Staff in Seongju invites visitors to experience the slow rhythms of nature; and Sungsil Church in Yeokchon-dong connects with the neighbourhood through an open courtyard. Yoo argues that in an age when opportunities for encounter with others are increasingly scarce, new typologies for the library, community centre, church, and art museum must emerge—ones capable of fostering shared experience and sustaining community. All four projects presented here are works in which a sense of ‘publicness’ is paramount, and together they demonstrate the ways of relating that have long defined his practice. These are all ways of creating new openings near us, without having to travel too far.