SPACE October 2024 (No. 683)
View on a Neighbourhood with Alleyways
A neighbourhood of two-storey, red brick, western-style homes, built in the late 1980s to early 1990s; the atmosphere and look of the neighbourhood, reminiscent of the Korean soap opera Reply 1988, was my first impression of the site. Known as Sandremi Village, many residents have lived here for many years. It’s a neighbourhood without walls, which encourages encounters between senior citizens, prompting them to cross and chat in the alleyways. However, those remaining western-style homes have recently been torn down, one-by-one, and replaced by four-storey multi-family housing units in accordance with the district unit planning zones. The decision was taken to preserve the atmosphere of the alleyways and madangs (yards) in these newly constructed multi-family houses, where residents gather and form small communities. The original impression of a home that would be connected to the village alleyways, where the view extends from inside the house to the alleyways outside, was made a reality.
