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Palimpsest
Palimpsest
Gwangju, South Korea
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Other Projects by Narrative Architects
Palimpsest
Gwangju, South Korea
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2023
SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft
BUDGET
$50K - 100K
The renovation project in Ssangryeong-dong, Gwangju, applies the concept of Palimpsest architecturally, aiming to respect the spatial context of historical layers while introducing contemporary interventions to imbue the building with a sense of presentness. The house, a working-class dwelling built during South Korea's urbanization process since the 1970s, was originally constructed with brick masonry and cement tiles, maintaining its original structure and materials to this day.
The building is located at the corner of two sloped roads, surrounded by traffic flows with varying speeds and directions. Within this multi-layered environment, the existing building seeks to reconfigure its relationship with the surroundings, aiming to capture the essence of the present through a restrained intervention.
The staircase, originally located directly at the entrance, was demolished and relocated inside the building to separate the circulation of the first and second floors with a low wall. This solution creates both visual continuity and functional separation. The newly added metal staircase crosses the yard, leading to the second floor, while the supporting columns reinforce the existing masonry structure and create a natural shadow beneath the staircase.
The ground of the courtyard and the walls were constructed using red bricks similar to those used in the original building, preserving its inherent texture and aesthetic identity. New elements, crafted with a restrained sense of materiality, highlight the temporal layered and unique qualities of the red brick, stone decorations, and tiles. This harmonious interaction between the building's original elements and contemporary interventions expands the spatial and historical significance of the structure.
Inside, the principle of minimal intervention was followed, with cement block walls added where structural reinforcement was needed, and the existing ceiling beams were integrated with the concrete slab to enhance the building's durability. In the context of the evolving environment, the project establishes an architectural relationship that connects the past with the present.
The building is located at the corner of two sloped roads, surrounded by traffic flows with varying speeds and directions. Within this multi-layered environment, the existing building seeks to reconfigure its relationship with the surroundings, aiming to capture the essence of the present through a restrained intervention.
The staircase, originally located directly at the entrance, was demolished and relocated inside the building to separate the circulation of the first and second floors with a low wall. This solution creates both visual continuity and functional separation. The newly added metal staircase crosses the yard, leading to the second floor, while the supporting columns reinforce the existing masonry structure and create a natural shadow beneath the staircase.
The ground of the courtyard and the walls were constructed using red bricks similar to those used in the original building, preserving its inherent texture and aesthetic identity. New elements, crafted with a restrained sense of materiality, highlight the temporal layered and unique qualities of the red brick, stone decorations, and tiles. This harmonious interaction between the building's original elements and contemporary interventions expands the spatial and historical significance of the structure.
Inside, the principle of minimal intervention was followed, with cement block walls added where structural reinforcement was needed, and the existing ceiling beams were integrated with the concrete slab to enhance the building's durability. In the context of the evolving environment, the project establishes an architectural relationship that connects the past with the present.
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