This Seoul residential block was created by local studio Archihood WXY to look like a cluster of four buildings, with each facade featuring a gabled profile in just 1 corner .
Archihood co-founders Woohyun Kang and Youngjin Kang developed the four-storey block for a plot in Bokjeong-dong.
The densely populated neighbourhood in the South Korean capital is common with students and younger experts. This has led to the construction of closely packed residential blocks, usually with out ample outdoor and communal area.
To fight the lack of gardens, Kang and Kang conceived the building as four home-shaped blocks with prolonged balconies that generate channels through the facade from the street to a central courtyard.
On the uppermost floors, these tall narrow terraces sever the roofline to define each block.
Relevant story: Angled openings create balconies across the facade of MORA apartments by ADNBA
The gaps created by the terraces bring sunlight and all-natural ventilation into the heart of the building, and give the project the identify Gap House.
“The spot has turn into quite crowded with multi-dwelling units, studios and pupil accommodations,” said Kang and Kang.
“The typical character of large-density residential areas in the capital such as the monotonous and generic-hunting units – which were made for highest profit and efficiency of area – has left residents with residing spaces that had been poorly created to assistance the perfect lifestyle and routine.”
“The concept of the Gap Residence is to assistance the new lifestyle of the young, single-demographic home by sharing frequent spaces this kind of as the residing room, kitchen, and dining area,” they additional.
Living spaces and balconies are stacked alternately by means of the ranges of the creating. Pale timber floors run throughout, whilst the surfaces of the stairwell are completed in exposed concrete.
These communal spaces are developed to inspire interaction among residents, who the architects refer to as housemates.
The positioning of the balconies, as nicely as the recessed oblong windows that puncture the two the street and courtyard-dealing with facades, offer some privacy for the overlooked plot.
“Normally, balconies positioned in front of the home have triggered severe privacy problems due to the fact of quite shut distance from neighbours,” mentioned the architects.
“To prevent this, balconies are made to be a lot more linear in form and are positioned deep within each of the units to maintain onlookers outdoors from seeking in.”
Downstairs, a U-shaped block contains a store and stairwell, and wraps three sides of the courtyard, blocking by means of-entry. An opening in the fourth side of the developing is supported by rows of grey metal pilotti.
“The Gap House invites individuals who like to breath and enjoy peace of thoughts by escaping from their active and difficult city existence,” added the pair.
Dezeen has recently published a series of tasks in Seoul with distinctive forms and facades, like this concrete tower for a cosmetics company that tapers towards its tip so as not to block the views of neighbouring constructing.
Photography is by Woohyun Kang/Archihood WXY.
Ground floor plan 
Normal upper floor program 
Area 
Internet site strategy Dezeen
