Layered Terrace House responds to Pangyo-dong's dense urbanity
![The Layered Terrace House](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N4DgbSNUUq6y24qGJofFaG-415-80.jpg)
The dense suburban housing in Pangyo-dong, an area 15 minutes south of central Seoul, leaves little room for parks and greenery. Luckily, Jo Jinman Architects designed Layered Terrace House with a built-in solution to this problem; it includes staggered levels, sheltering 17 different rooms and three external terraces and courtyards, slotting everything into a site of just 13 x 17m.
Eight family members occupy this house, including grandparents, aunt and uncle, father, mother and two young children. Each resident had different requirements and visions of their perfect home; the grandparents, for example, were keen to get a kitchen garden and study, whereas the young family needed a separate living space, playroom and study for the children.
Take an interactive tour of Layered Terrace House
Constrained by strict planning regulations that dictated going no more than two storeys high, the architects carefully arranged spaces within a multi-layered split level property with a roof terrace. The spacious result feels more like a three-storey house.
The design is ‘dynamic and responsive to accommodate a broad range of fixed and changing activities’, explain the architects. Wide maple stairs link the downstairs lounge to the half-floor of bedrooms above – doubling up as cinema seats for a projected screen. Meanwhile the playroom factors in the children’s present height, enabling two levels within a 3.6m high space, but with a removable mezzanine which will transform the space into a master bedroom as they grow up.
A central courtyard unites all spaces, with interior facades of striped leftover Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF) creating an intricate timber pattern, which rises up to the roof. Within the rooms, a modest composition of white walls and furnishings, and maple wood floors brings all spaces together, in a continuous layout that cleverly avoids corridors and wasted space.
The introverted house's elevations are rendered dark grey and feature few openings towards the road. Views are largely focused inwards, on the tranquil hidden courtyard and upper terraces, though small balconies and windows puncture the austere external surface, helping natural cross-ventilation throughout. Structural walls and floor slabs are visible on the external facades, revealing a hint of the internal arrangement.
The house is occupied by eight family members, including grandparents, aunt and uncle, father, mother and two young children. Each resident had different requirements and visions of their perfect home
A central courtyard unites all spaces, providing an area in the heart of the house, where the family can come together
Interior facades of striped leftover Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF) create an intricate vertical timber pattern, which leads the gaze up to the roof
The ground floor accomodates shared living spaces, a kitchen, utility room and the grandparent's quarters
Wide maple stair treads link the downstairs lounge to the mezzanine of bedrooms above – doubling up as cinema seats for a projector screen
Staircases link the different staggered floor levels. A modest composition of white walls and furnishings, and maple wood floors is consistent across all spaces
The aunt and uncle's rooms both contain desk space and are linked by a small balcony
A first floor terrace leads out from one of the bedrooms. All the main spaces connect to an external patio or balcony, helping natural cross-ventilation throughout
The three patios are visually connected and shared, becoming the main social meeting points of the property. One of the bedrooms' terraces is also linked to the playroom
The young family needed a separate kitchen and living space, a playroom for the children and an extra study. Their living quarters are at the top of the house
A long bookshelf runs the length of the wall in the family's living area. A separate room at the top of the house was created in response to the mother's request for storage space
The roof terrace frames views out over Pangyo-dong and the Geumto Mountain beyond. The suburb lies fifteen minutes south of Seoul
Through its unique staggered layout, the house manages to sqeeze 17 different rooms and three external terraces and courtyards into a site of just 13 x 17m
The internal layout is hinted at on the design of the grey external facades, where structural walls and floor slabs are subtly visible
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Clive Lonstein’s Manhattan home is a warm minimalist space brimming with texture
Designer Clive Lonstein elevates his carefully curated Manhattan home with rich textures and fabrics
By Alfredo Mineo Published
-
New York Fashion Week S/S 2025 highlights: Ralph Lauren to Proenza Schouler
Wallpaper* fashion features editor Jack Moss selects the best of New York Fashion Week S/S 2025 in our ongoing round-up, from Ralph Lauren’s trip to The Hamptons to a move away from reduction at Proenza Schouler
By Jack Moss Published
-
Hedi Slimane takes Celine to Norfolk for ‘Anglomania’ menswear collection: watch the film
Inspired by Evelyn Waugh’s ‘Bright Young Things’, Hedi Slimane’s latest Celine menswear collection is captured by the designer in a romantic short film set at the Palladian Holkham Hall on England’s Norfolk coastline
By Jack Moss Published
-
Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2024: meet the practices
In the Wallpaper* Architects Directory 2024, our latest guide to exciting, emerging practices from around the world, 20 young studios show off their projects and passion
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Studio Heech transforms a Seoul home, nodding to Pierre Chareau’s Maison De Verre
Young South Korean practice Studio Heech joins the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2024, our annual round-up of exciting emerging architecture studios
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Architect Byoung Cho on nature, imperfection and interconnectedness
South Korean architect Byoung Cho’s characterful projects celebrate the quirks of nature and the interconnectedness of all things
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
2023 Seoul Biennale of architecture invites visitors to step into the outdoors
Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2023 has launched in the South Korean capital, running themes around nature and land through the lens of urbanism
By SuhYoung Yun Published
-
Tadao Ando’s ‘Space of Light’, a meditation pavilion, opens in South Korea
Tadao Ando’s ‘Space of Light’ pavilion opens at Museum SAN in South Korea
By SuhYoung Yun Published
-
Seosaeng House is a holiday home designed to capture the rising sun
Seosaeng House, Studio Weave’s first project in South Korea, is a clifftop holiday home perfectly designed to capture a new day dawning over the East Sea
By SuhYoung Yun Published
-
K-Pop hit factory gets a futuristic new office in Seoul
UNStudio completes headquarters building for leaders in K-Pop scene YG Entertainment, in Seoul
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Brighten Hannam brings luxury living to Seoul’s trendy Hannam-dong district
Brighten Hannam by South Korean developer Shinyoung, architects Urban Agency and architecture studio Intg is Seoul’s latest luxury residential offering in the trendy Hannam-dong district
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated