Principal architect: Kim Dong jin (the Graduate School of Architectural engineering Hong-ik University), L’EAU DESIGN
Location: 551-44 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Program Commercial: Facilities
Site area: 431§³
Building area: 241.01§³
Gross floor area: 999.38§³
Building scope: B2, 4F
Exterior closing: Stuccoflex, Cheonggo brick, Low-E Double-layer glass
Structural: RC
Construction: Co-Workers
Photographer: Kyungsub Shin, Huh Ik

About Kim Dong Jin

Architect D.P.L.G.
President of L’EAU DESIGN Co., Ltd. Laboratory of Environment Architecture Urbanism
Professor of the Graduate School of Architectural engineering Hong-ik University
www.leau.co.kr
leau@lycos.co.kr

Kim dong-jin studies architecture in Hongik, Seoul, and in Ecole d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville, becoming an Architect DPLG. He has worked at SAC (Seoul Architects Consultants) INTERNATIONAL, LTD. in Seoul. He is the President of L’EAU DESIGN Co., Ltd. Laboratory of Environment Architecture Urbanism, and is a professor of Hongik University.

His major works include “Bati-ㄹ“, ”Scarlet Terre house”, “Ohryu High School Renovation”, “Iridescent cloud”, “RSM Design Studio-Official Space”, “Newyork Gana Gallery” and etc. He has received Seoul Metropolitan Government Architecture Awards in 2007, Korea, Awards of the Korean Institute of Architects in 2008, 1st Young Architect Awards in 2008.

This is an aerial view of the building showcasing its unique shape that makes it stand out against the surrounding structures.

This is a closer aerial view of the building that showcases the unique askew design of the building's levels.

This is a view of the front exterior of the building with a parking area and driveway. The upper level also has a large balcony.

This is a view of the building from the vantage of the street.

This is a view of the building from the vantage of the street shpwcasing its unique shape and design.

This is a view of the building from the vantage of the street showcasing the various structures that make it unique.

This is a nighttime view of the building to showcase the warm lighting that gives it a unique look.

This is a close look at the side of the building showcasing the overlap of the upper level over the first level of the building.

This is a view of the back of the building with large concrete walls and a few windows.

This is a close look at the front of the building showcasing the warm lighting of the ground floor and the upper level.

This is a closer look at the ground floor main entrance of the building that has large glass walls.

This is the side of the building with its lights on showcasing the bright areas of the ground level.

This side of the building has glass walls that glow from the interior lights that escape through the glass.

This is a closer look at the upper floor of the building with glass walls and concrete structures.

This is a look up at the askew design of the upper floor with bright concrete walls.

This is an exterior look at the building showcasing the balcony of the upper floor along with various windows.

This is a closer look at the upper floor balconies and glass windows supported by concrete structures.

This is a closer look at the window of the upper floor that has a unique embedded design and angled position.

This is a closer look at the balconies and glass walls of the upper floor of the building supported by the concrete structures.

The wall above the main entrance of the building has a wall tile accent to it resembling bricks.

This is a close look at the upper floors of the building and the glow of the glass walls and the recessed lights above the balcony.

This is a close look at the side of the building showcasing the warm glow of the glass walls and balconies supported by the concrete structures.

This is an aerial view of the building showcasing the warm glow of the glass walls and the large car park area in front with parking lines and asphalt floor.

This is a close look at the front of the building that goves glimpses of the interior through large glass walls on the upper level.

This is an atrium near the entrance of the building showcasing an open ceiling at the very top.

This is the atrium beside the main entrance of the building with a set of steps leading to the lower level.

This is a closer view of the area with a set of steps to the lower level, metal railings and glass walls.

This is an interior view of the building with a comfortable cushioned armchair by the large glass wall that leads to the balcony.

This is another look at the armchair facing the glass wall that lets in an abundance of natural lighting.

The interior has a tall ceiling with beige walls that match and complemented by recessed lights.

This is a close look at the dining area with a long table surrounded by modern chairs and topped with a tall ceiling.

This is an interior view of the house showcasing a large open room with a skylight in the middle.

This is a large open area bathed in natural lighting that is coming in from the large glass wal across from the staircase.

This is a closer look at the large glass wall across from the staircase with an access to the balcony.

The natural lights coming in pair well with the beige walls and beige ceiling of the large area.

The balcony just outside the glass wall also has glass railing to maximize the view.

This is a view of the second level landing with hardwood flooring and metal railings.

The staircase has a clear view of the floor below due to the glass walls.

This is a spacious area with hardwood flooring, a glass divider and a skylight in the middle.

This is a close look at the balcony doors with glass structure and a large beige wall.

The rooftop terrace of the house has wooden deck flooring.

The walls of the rooftop area has tiles that resemble brick.

This is a close look at the large concrete beam in the middle of the rooftop area.

This is a close look at a glass wall by the stairs with a view of the parking below.

This is a close look at the staircase with beige walls and a large glass window on the corner by the landing for natural lights.

This is an indoor balcony within the house with metal railings and a view of the glass wall on the far side.

This is the atrium with glass walls on the sides and an open ceiling at the very top.

This is an aerial view of the building with a focus on the warm glow of the glass walls.

This is a top aerial view of the building showcasing its unique design and its multiple terraces.

This is the illustration of the first level floor plan.

This is the illustration of the second level floor plan.

This is the illustration of the third level floor plan.

This is the illustration of the fourth level floor plan.

This is the illustration of the basement 1 level floor plan.

This is the illustration of the basement 2 level floor plan.

This is the illustration of the roof level floor plan.

An active Self-Territorialization protecting oneself from the changing outdoor environment

“Cocooning phenomenon” is a term made by German Social Psychologist S. Popcon, and it stands for the habit of silkworm hiding inside a cocoon and protecting itself from the outside. As modern society gets complicated, people pursue the intimate comfort of themselves through a slightly enclosed place than excessively exposed exterior activities.

‘New-Cocooning tribe’ is different from the Enclosed type Cocooning tribe of the past, who habitually seclude and escape, and actively spends their hobby and leisure time in its own space. Also. Modern people want a substantive relaxing space where they can guarantee the personal environment amid of network society that is overly exposed to information.

This kind of modern people’s cocooning secures personal privacy by it-self inside the complex city center and wraps its body from the surroundings and makes its own lifestyle. In the process of commercialization of the quiet exclusive residential area, Banpo Cocooning is an architectural strategy where houses and the city reconciliate and co-exist, avoiding gentrification phenomenon.

01.’Nudge’ Effect inside the changing city center

Cocooning gradually induces a positive change of urban landscape little by little inside the unconsciousness with soft invasion, not coercion. By changing ‘Daily Landscape’, makes people form their own pattern. This little change inside people’s unconsciousness always tries to find a meaning in everything, and in other words, it evokes a kind of an Apophenia effect which is a tendency of finding a pattern in amid of disorder and brings new vitality and change around an urban area.

02. Innermost ‘Cocooning’ of its own inside City center

The plot has located between the 4th-5th level high residential areas deep inside the road. These highly dense residential buildings standing on the ground except for the parking space are keen on privacy invasion.

It’s hard to handle the problem which the inside of surrounding multiplex and multifamily houses could be seen and psychological insecurity only with the legal separation space and the face blocking structure blocking the view from the window. Therefore, the residential buildings inside dense city centers are requiring an enclosed boundary which could protect the invasion of their privacy.

Inside the boundary of ‘Cocoon’ with flexible air layer, the inner story of its own makes composure which could be sustainably generated and at the same time protect privacy from the surrounding buildings. This kind of ‘Cocooning’ makes boundary outwardly according to the privacy relationship with the surrounding buildings inside the residential exclusive area but makes its inner individual landscape and co-exists inwardly.