The 'H house' in the valley of seongbuk-dong just north of seoul, and designed by korean practice bang by min, manages a rather complex set of parameters in program and site to accommodate the owner's specifications: it must be a house where three generations can live at the same time, it must be very well ventilated and have plentiful amounts of day light especially in the basement and first level, and it must contain a ground floor commercial space. the property has a height difference of eight meters, which means that the first two stories are partially under ground and suffered dark damp conditions in the previously existing dwelling. the solution can be thought of as a small tower resting on a concrete plinth containing the garage and commercial space, a beauty shop called 'miega.' primarily supported by a concrete shear wall structure, stacked spaces of differing materials create semi-individual living areas. the second storey acts as the communal space, where three living rooms of various heights create a natural separation for each of the nuclear families, connected or separated by retractable walls. overhanging volumes and deep eaves shade the large west-facing windows, with wooden screens for privacy.
Set in from the property edge, the dwelling allows views in all directions and therefore plenty of natural light and ventilation. in response to the previous issues with the subterranean levels, a sunken courtyard was created that also offers a private exterior area. various cuts and voids in the primary structure create moments for light to illuminate the interior, making all the programmatic elements feel airy and light. gardens and other embedded courtyards add to this effect and create a strong relationship between the outside and inside. an atrium in the center of the project contains a hanging mult-use area that exhibits a space within a space. the rooftop garden allows the users a view over the valley from the highest point, as well as another place to escape company without actually leaving the residence.
