The "Jikim House" is located within a housing complex in Pungdong. The site is adjacent to a 9-meter wide road circulating within the complex to the east, with neighboring plots on both the north and south sides, and an apartment complex to the west. All four sides of the site offer views into the house, making privacy a key consideration. The owners, a couple, desired a "house that is closed from the outside but open on the inside," a space where they could feel free from the gaze of others.
To achieve the "closed from the outside" aspect, we proposed a design that utilizes partition walls. Partition walls were installed on both the first and second floors, blocking the views from the road and surrounding houses, ensuring privacy for the living spaces while also serving as fences.
The partition walls also create a visual effect, making the building appear larger. The site is located in a natural green zone with a 25% building coverage restriction, and a 3-meter architectural boundary was set on the west side of the lot according to the district unit plan. If the building were built with a floor plan of around 25 pyeong per level, extending over 2 or 3 floors, the structure could appear narrow and cramped. By adding a surrounding yard around the same mass, the first floor forms a solid base, giving the building an impression of stability and a larger scale than its actual size.
To alleviate concerns from the owners about potential darkness caused by the southern wall, we placed the partition wall on the second floor slightly behind the one on the first floor. This allows for adequate sunlight to enter the interior. The walls surrounding the yard have openings in certain sections, with louvers installed to allow the interior to have a view of the outside, addressing the owner's concerns that the walls might make the space feel cramped.
To the north, a detached house had already been built on the neighboring plot, but the owner was informed that there were no plans for construction on the southern plot. As a result, the left side of the Jikim House holds equal importance as the front facade. Using two colors—light gray and dark gray STO—the building's mass is emphasized, and the layering effect creates visual depth when viewed from the southern road. On the opposite side, a round window acts as a focal point. Both the front and side facades were designed with minimal windows, considering the external views.
Entering through the front gate, you descend into an underground parking garage. Upon entering, a glass door leading to a sunken space can be seen straight ahead. Looking up from the sunken space, the sky is visible through a large void that cuts through all three floors. This "open from the inside" concept, another key desire of the owner, is realized through this void. The main living areas are positioned on either side of the void, and a large window in the center of the house allows for visual connections between the spaces.
The owners enjoy cooking, dining, and hosting guests together as a family, so the kitchen and dining area on the first floor serve as the main space of the Jikim House. A large island and a dining table for 10 people occupy the largest area of the house. Reflecting the owner's wish to incorporate a camping lifestyle into their home, the outdoor yard deck is designed to connect with the kitchen and dining area, rather than the living room.
To cater to the owner's preference for open spaces with high ceiling heights, we incorporated level differences between spaces to create variety. Moving from the kitchen and dining area down a small corridor by the stairs, a private family living room is revealed. On the second floor, a few steps up from the master bedroom area, the children's space is found. The raised ceiling of the living room beneath the children's space provides a sense of openness while maintaining an intimate atmosphere in the living room.
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