The ancient moniker for Seoul’s Namsan Mountain resonates with historical echoes—Mokmyeoksan. Since 1392, when the Joseon Dynasty unfurled its reign and anointed Seoul as Hanyang, Namsan assumed paramount importance in the intricate tapestry of Feng-shui. Here, the convergence of natural energies and strategic positioning was palpable. The mountain’s slopes bore witness to defensive ramparts and watchtowers, fortifications against external threats.
In the present day, Namsan’s contours cradle a diverse ensemble of structures—a symphony of civic amenities. Performance halls, museums, and sports facilities harmonize with the mountain’s silhouette, serving the city’s denizens. Yet, it is on Namsan’s northern flank that a quaint village emerges—a tableau of traditional Korean hanok houses remade. Here, Namsan Park envelops the scene, its verdant embrace sheltering a peculiar gem—the “Seoul Millennium Time Capsule Plaza.” This crater-like expanse, reminiscent of volcanic activity, safeguards Seoul’s cultural legacy within a sealed vault. Six hundred artifacts, encapsulating the city’s essence, lie dormant within. The capsule, interred on November 29, 1994, awaits its unveiling in the distant future—November 29, 2394. What visage will Seoul wear after the passage of three centuries and seven decades?
Yet, Seoul, as an urban palimpsest, grapples with constraints. Architects and urban planners navigate intricate labyrinths of regulations. When cultural heritage sites nestle nearby, the canvas tightens further. Scale, height, function, and materiality—all subject to meticulous scrutiny. At the fringes of Namsan Park, an irregular plot beckoned—an enigma of beauty and limitation. The irregularly shaped land at the edge of Namsan Park had a beautiful view but was labeled “incompatible for measurement.” Constructing upon it seemed akin to pursuing an improbable quest. The client who entrusted us with designing this house coincidentally discovered this quiet alley with a refreshing view of Namsan Park.
The land’s contours dictated an unconventional dance—a building form that eschewed symmetry. Our client sought a dwelling that would converse with the earth. Each floor yielded less than 50 square meters, and purposes diverged. Seoul’s municipal authorities, bound by duty, scrutinized every angle. The architectural endeavor unfolded like a cryptic mathematical puzzle, its constraints manifold. Overhead, a tangle of power lines bore witness—a testament to the house’s trials.
Here, at Seoul’s heart, nature, city, and historical legacy intersect—an architectural crossroads. The intellectual and physical terrain diverged, yet we sought synthesis. A sail, a blade—the polygonal plane emerged, its edges keen. The northward window framed Namsan’s panoramic vista, while the southern portal invited passersby to glimpse the park beyond. Ascending the minimalist staircase, one arrived at an expansive rooftop garden—a sanctuary of vistas.
For the exterior, we chose hues befitting the historic district—monochromatic tones that whispered of tradition. The very stones that graced palaces and fortresses found their place—time-worn and steadfast. Nearby, the vestiges of Seoul’s ancient city walls whispered their stories. Inspired, we conjured the image of a “boru”—a stronghold—from Suwon Hwaseong. Each stone, hewn and layered, bore the weight of history. Angular junctures softened, and patterns bridged the stoic facade.
The rooftop transcended its mere railing function, rising like walls—a stairwell imbued with the purpose of a sentinel, reminiscent of a traditional watchtower. The railing design found its muse in the rich tapestry of Korean architecture, symbolically encapsulating elements of Korean construction.
Architect : Hyoungnam Lim, Eunjoo Roh in studio_GAON
Project Team : Sungpil Lee, Seongwon Son
Construction : Starsis
Supervision : studio_GAON
Photographs : Seokgyu hong
Location : Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Use : retail & House
Site Area : 91.9㎡
Building Area : 48.02㎡
Gross Floor Area : 184.99㎡
Building Scope : 3F
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