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Wirye Y-HOUSE
Wirye Y-HOUSE
Seongnam-si, South Korea
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Other Projects by KODE architects
Wirye Y-HOUSE
Seongnam-si, South Korea
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2018
SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft
BUDGET
Undisclosed
A Building Resembling a Mountain
In planned housing districts, buildings often fall into standardized, functional forms due to similar site conditions. On this site, however, we saw the opportunity—and necessity—for an architectural gesture that would secure views of the mountain ahead while protecting the family’s privacy. We envisioned a home that could breathe with nature, offering both a quiet, introspective atmosphere and the flexibility to open toward the surrounding landscape.
The courtyard, fluid in shape, was imagined as a space that could at times merge with nature and at other times provide an enclosed retreat for the family. We aspired to design a house that resembles a mountain—not merely in form, but in spirit—a symbolic volume that holds and reflects the landscape, elevating itself above the uniform typology of typical suburban homes.
Site Analysis & Massing Strategy
Located at the edge of the Wirye New Town near Seoul, the site stands at the junction between a rear-facing apartment complex and a neighborhood of detached houses. The northwest edge faces a sunken two-lane road, buffered by a green strip that secures privacy while offering openness toward the mountain beyond. Positioned near the intersection of two roads, the site enjoys a commanding view, but also faces potential privacy challenges from passing vehicles and pedestrians.
The clients—a couple in their 40s and their active elementary school-aged son—wished to escape the spatial and auditory constraints of apartment life. Their primary desire was for a home where the child could play freely and invite friends, without the fear of disturbing neighbors. The design thus had to balance openness with containment, and individuality with shared domestic life.
Additionally, the owners requested a two-family configuration, with the first floor and basement for themselves, and the second floor and attic to be rented. They also wished to retain exclusive access to the rooftop terrace. Therefore, this project centered on two key challenges: interpreting a site with strong pros and cons, and defining the architectural relationship between the two households stacked vertically.
ㄷ-Shaped Layout: Framing and Shielding
We proposed a bold, symmetrical ㄷ-shaped (U-shaped) massing that directly addresses the site's terminal position at the end of the road. This configuration not only frames the natural view across the road but also acts as a shield, protecting the house from neighboring lots and the street.
A large movable wall was introduced along the street-facing façade—closed during weekday routines to secure privacy, and opened during weekends or family gatherings to connect seamlessly with the yard. This gesture transforms the yard into an active threshold, flexible and responsive to daily rhythms.
Elevation Design: Windows and Perception
After in-depth discussion with the client, we defined distinct visual identities for the two floors. The first floor opens inward, focused around the central courtyard, while the second floor opens outward, capturing various views of the landscape.
On the first floor, the courtyard-centered layout ensures that family members can face one another across shared space—creating an intimate visual dialogue among the rooms. The second floor, in contrast, distributes the rooms to embrace different orientations of the surrounding nature, offering each tenant a unique perspective.
Elevation Design: Unity and Separation
While the programs are separated vertically, the elevation is unified through a consistent use of materials and horizontal articulation. Steel frames delineate the structure, while a single cladding material—with emphasized horizontal joints—gives the building the appearance of a cohesive monolithic form. The contrast between differentiated spatial programs and unified expression enhances both identity and dignity.
Attic as Mountain – Interior Resonating with Exterior
To compensate for the limited external experience available to attic users, we introduced varied ceiling heights that respond to both functional needs and zoning regulations. Internally, these changes generate a dynamic series of gable roofs that shift in direction and scale, creating an interior topography. Externally, the overlapping rooflines echo a mountain range, forming a figurative skyline that defines the building’s identity.
Rooftop Terraces and Private Access
Two separate rooftop terraces were designed for independent use—one for the first-floor owners and one for the second-floor tenants. The terraces are accessed via exterior staircases, carefully placed to preserve privacy and independence between the two households.
Layered Living – A House in Three Bands
At the heart of the first floor, the ㄷ-shaped courtyard encloses the living room, a space aligned with the axis of the road and open at both front and back. A large rear window brings in nature, while the movable front wall offers selective openness. Together, these elements allow the space to oscillate between introversion and extroversion, shaping a layered architectural experience that shifts with light, time, and activity.
In planned housing districts, buildings often fall into standardized, functional forms due to similar site conditions. On this site, however, we saw the opportunity—and necessity—for an architectural gesture that would secure views of the mountain ahead while protecting the family’s privacy. We envisioned a home that could breathe with nature, offering both a quiet, introspective atmosphere and the flexibility to open toward the surrounding landscape.
The courtyard, fluid in shape, was imagined as a space that could at times merge with nature and at other times provide an enclosed retreat for the family. We aspired to design a house that resembles a mountain—not merely in form, but in spirit—a symbolic volume that holds and reflects the landscape, elevating itself above the uniform typology of typical suburban homes.
Site Analysis & Massing Strategy
Located at the edge of the Wirye New Town near Seoul, the site stands at the junction between a rear-facing apartment complex and a neighborhood of detached houses. The northwest edge faces a sunken two-lane road, buffered by a green strip that secures privacy while offering openness toward the mountain beyond. Positioned near the intersection of two roads, the site enjoys a commanding view, but also faces potential privacy challenges from passing vehicles and pedestrians.
The clients—a couple in their 40s and their active elementary school-aged son—wished to escape the spatial and auditory constraints of apartment life. Their primary desire was for a home where the child could play freely and invite friends, without the fear of disturbing neighbors. The design thus had to balance openness with containment, and individuality with shared domestic life.
Additionally, the owners requested a two-family configuration, with the first floor and basement for themselves, and the second floor and attic to be rented. They also wished to retain exclusive access to the rooftop terrace. Therefore, this project centered on two key challenges: interpreting a site with strong pros and cons, and defining the architectural relationship between the two households stacked vertically.
ㄷ-Shaped Layout: Framing and Shielding
We proposed a bold, symmetrical ㄷ-shaped (U-shaped) massing that directly addresses the site's terminal position at the end of the road. This configuration not only frames the natural view across the road but also acts as a shield, protecting the house from neighboring lots and the street.
A large movable wall was introduced along the street-facing façade—closed during weekday routines to secure privacy, and opened during weekends or family gatherings to connect seamlessly with the yard. This gesture transforms the yard into an active threshold, flexible and responsive to daily rhythms.
Elevation Design: Windows and Perception
After in-depth discussion with the client, we defined distinct visual identities for the two floors. The first floor opens inward, focused around the central courtyard, while the second floor opens outward, capturing various views of the landscape.
On the first floor, the courtyard-centered layout ensures that family members can face one another across shared space—creating an intimate visual dialogue among the rooms. The second floor, in contrast, distributes the rooms to embrace different orientations of the surrounding nature, offering each tenant a unique perspective.
Elevation Design: Unity and Separation
While the programs are separated vertically, the elevation is unified through a consistent use of materials and horizontal articulation. Steel frames delineate the structure, while a single cladding material—with emphasized horizontal joints—gives the building the appearance of a cohesive monolithic form. The contrast between differentiated spatial programs and unified expression enhances both identity and dignity.
Attic as Mountain – Interior Resonating with Exterior
To compensate for the limited external experience available to attic users, we introduced varied ceiling heights that respond to both functional needs and zoning regulations. Internally, these changes generate a dynamic series of gable roofs that shift in direction and scale, creating an interior topography. Externally, the overlapping rooflines echo a mountain range, forming a figurative skyline that defines the building’s identity.
Rooftop Terraces and Private Access
Two separate rooftop terraces were designed for independent use—one for the first-floor owners and one for the second-floor tenants. The terraces are accessed via exterior staircases, carefully placed to preserve privacy and independence between the two households.
Layered Living – A House in Three Bands
At the heart of the first floor, the ㄷ-shaped courtyard encloses the living room, a space aligned with the axis of the road and open at both front and back. A large rear window brings in nature, while the movable front wall offers selective openness. Together, these elements allow the space to oscillate between introversion and extroversion, shaping a layered architectural experience that shifts with light, time, and activity.
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