Volumetric Urban Space

LESS ARCHITECTS / JUNSEUNG WOO

레스아키텍츠(레스건축) / 우준승

The site is located in middle of a historical area adjacent to the Chosun Palace.  As such, teh streets are narrow and interconnected, creating various sizes and functions  as a small open space. There are also numerous traditional buildings with varying textures that remain nearby.  Accordingly, the area naturally became a hot spot for tourists.

The pedestrian space is critical, and the most important design issue to solve was how to ensure that the adjoining narrow street was pedestrian friendly and intimate.

We developed a design based on research of the quality and quantity of the street.  The building is set to the rear to create an open space on the side of the street to make an eco-friendly area that coexists with the historical building unit (KAN).  This was carefully controlled to generate a rhythm between the narrow alleyway and the open public space.  As the open space is located on the westside and attached to the building, the open space serves to connect to the narrow street and also create enclosed space by curved brick wall and roof design.

The façade is carefully developed by human movement and robust traditional street logic.  It is  vertically divided and split by the open space, glazing, entrance and landscape to interact with pedestrians on the street.  It also is integrated to the historical area functionally and aesthetically.

The existing narrow alleyway is also connected to the building inside.  It is also connected to various communal spaces, reaching the roof garden with a panoramic view of the historic city.

The space is also opened to the street and connected to the building vertically with a void space on each floor.  The void space takes in the light and street condition into the building; it also works with the human movement inside and outside of the building.  

Environmental movement is also important.  The vertically connected void space is controlled by the microclimate of the space by ventilation and daylight.