House with integrated exhibition hall in Seoul

Residential and exhibition space under one roof

A house with an integrated exhibition hall has been built at the foot of the Bukhansan mountain in Seoul. Two distinctly structured volumes synergistically create a well-balanced correlation of private living, art and nature.

The two sections of the building are functionally separate, but spatially interwoven: the lower level houses the exhibition hall, which faces the street, while the section above is reserved for private residential rooms. An intermediary green courtyard between the two levels serves as both the roof of the gallery and the house garden.

The right-hand side of the building borders a public flight of steps. Using this for orientation, two differentiated lower volumes were built. The facade on the lower section features gentle curves and a slightly angled corner to make a pedestrian-friendly impression. The higher section with a private inner courtyard features openings designed to draw the natural environment deep into the living area,

As much as the building shape emphases the two main areas of use, these are differentiated by different textures: the area below is as soft as a friendly encounter, while that above is rougher, like the mountain rising up nearby.