Traditional South Korean architecture meets innovation in a renovated hanok house

What hutongs are to China, hanoks are to Korea. These clusters of traditional low-rise family houses have evolved over centuries, tailor-made to the cultural and climatic needs of their particular territory. In recent decades, though, they have been rapidly disappearing to make way for modern developments.

Among Seoul’s urban mix of scales and styles, few hanoks remain intact after the city experienced – like many of its Asian counterparts – a century of wars and rapid urbanisation. As a result, a historic wooden hanok house is an extremely rare property to own, and the old, upscale neighbourhood of Bukchon is one of the few examples of hanok clusters still around.

Savvy locals know that when the opportunity comes up to buy a hanok – or land within a hanok cluster – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime project. So when Seoul-based designer Teo Yang was approached by a client with a plan to rebuild a hanok in Bukchon as a modern home, he understood the importance of working with such precious architectural heritage.

‘Even though Korea has lost much of its heritage over time, the studio’s goal is to find innovation and space based on our tradition,’ he says. ‘And hanoks are a key source of inspiration, where we can bridge present and past, especially in a country where forward-thinking and cutting-edge development is celebrated. I believe preservation and further study of hanok houses are crucial to keep our original local spirit alive.’

The project involved reconstructing a hanok that once sat on the site but was demolished in the early 2000s. The client, a businessman, property developer and keen art collector, spotted the plot in Bukchon and jumped at the opportunity. His aim was to use the land to build his own contemporary home, while maintaining the old structure’s footprint and traditional Joseon dynasty style. ‘The client wanted to enjoy the tradition, but made it clear that he did not want to live in an 18th-century house,’ says Yang.

‘We had to create a space where tradition and present coexist. So we generated a very distinctive design for the two different floors, creating a traditional atmosphere for the upper floor, and a more Western, modern atmosphere for the lounge downstairs.’

The central courtyard is one of the most prominent areas of the house. As is traditional, the space is an extension of the ground floor, blending indoors and out. Here, Yang gave history a modern twist, steering clear of the customary heavily decorated courtyard doors and opting for clean, floor-to-ceiling glass openings, highlighting the visual connections between the interior and the outdoors.

This transparency brings in natural light, and also encourages self-reflection, says Yang. ‘Confucius believes that the house is a reflection of its owner. By looking at one’s house, one gets the chance to think about one’s own behaviour and by having full-height transparent glass windows, the house allows its dweller to look at it from all angles.’

A reading room was added off the courtyard, as a nod to the historical ‘men’s quarter’, a part of the house where Joseon dynasty nobility would retire to study, write poetry and relax. The remaining rooms surrounding the courtyard on the ground floor include a study, a master bedroom, an open-plan kitchen and dining area, a bathroom, a living room and the entrance foyer. The basement contains a media lounge, a wine cellar, a walk-in wardrobe and a garage.

Expert artisans were employed to carry out the house’s intricate woodworking – and everything, from treating and drying the timber to the final, meticulous sizecutting and joinery work, was done by hand.

The architect also favoured more traditional finishes and detailing where possible, such as using handmade black and patterned tiles when constructing the garden walls, leatherwork for the door handles, and flower motif-decorated doors, all produced by specialist carpenters.

The owner’s personal art collection, ranging from historical Korean earthenware dating from 5AD to a painting by Julian Opie, is carefully framed in various parts of the house. The crown jewel, a series of abstract Dansaekhwa paintings from the 1970s, is located on the lower level, where celebrated minimalist Korean artist Lee Ufan’s painting From Line also hangs.

Offering a balanced blend of Korean history and modern comforts, this hanok’s rebirth is a rare treat – and part of a growing trend among Seoul’s culture-savvy crowd. Yet, simply owning a hanok is not enough to truly bring this architectural legacy back to life, cautions Yang. ‘It is important to know and study the originality of the hanok and respect its roots before renovation starts,’ he says. An approach he has followed to the letter in his Bukchon masterpiece.

As originally featured in the October 2018 issue of Wallpaper* (W*235)

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Teo Yang Studio website