The site for this project is a narrow and long plot of approximately 100 pyeong, located on a backstreet in Gangnam. The road is narrow, and the neighboring site on the opposite side of the road is about 3 meters higher in elevation. Gangnam is one of the most expensive areas in South Korea, and building projects in this area are highly competitive. The designer must maximize the potential of the site, which means securing the maximum floor area ratio.
The first design approach is to gain an additional floor area by having the basement level recognized as part of the underground floor, which is excluded from the legal floor area ratio. Although this may seem like a simple issue at first, it required meticulous structural calculations and careful consideration of feasibility, as there are requirements for the legal number of parking spaces, fire safety passageways, and a retaining wall to maintain the elevated terrain. It was essential to verify the effectiveness of each alternative design by checking the average weight of the site and the eligibility of the underground floor. The basement level floor plan was the starting point for the design of this project.
The second challenge was to maximize the floor area ratio while adhering to the regulations of sunlight obstruction lines in residential areas. It is often said that buildings are designed according to regulations, and many buildings in residential areas adopt unnatural stepped forms due to these restrictions. The buildings surrounding this project are mostly designed in this way. The core idea of the exterior design for this project was to make the regulatory form appear more natural. The stepped shape, with three levels from the second to the fourth floor, was treated with glass on the third floor to visually separate the second and fourth floors and create a sense of depth on the front facade. This added dimensionality to the corner of the building, making it appear as if the design was intentional rather than strictly regulatory. Only two materials were used throughout the building to maintain visual unity.
The third aspect is the basement level. There is direct access to the basement from the entrance road via a staircase, and it is well-connected to the main stairs and elevator. The ceiling height is planned to be 5 meters, creating a spacious and open atmosphere. The rear of the basement features a large sunken space, providing ample daylight and ventilation, and allowing for outdoor activities. This is the largest space in the building, and its versatile layout is expected to accommodate various uses.
Architectural design is a highly complex task that requires providing answers to various questions in a single outcome. One of these questions includes the concept of time. A building exists in a place for over 50 years and will be seen and used by countless people. I believe that simple and thoughtful design has the power to endure time.
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