Hwaheon by IROJE KHM Architects

ByJon Dykstra Houses

Front view of the blooming house.

Architect: HyoMan Kim – IROJE KHM Architects
Photographer: Sergio Pirrone
Design team: KyungJin-Jung, SeungHee-Song, SuKyung-Jang, JiYeon-Kim
Location: Pyeongchang-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul, Korea
U S E: Residence
Site area: 353.92㎡
Bldg. area: 167.88 ㎡
Gross floor area: 441.69 ㎡
Structure: Concrete rahmen
Exterior finishing: Aluminum sheet, Exposed concrete
Interior finishing: Lacquer, Exposed concrete

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About Studio

While firmly adhering to the legitimacy and purity of architecture, we are trying to recover the identity of Korean urban architectural culture in this era where blind westernization is being handed down. To this end, it is our goal to establish an independent and unique Korean architectural city cultural identity that is distinguished from foreign cultures by simultaneously exploring and studying the traditional Korean characteristics of the past and the modern Korean characteristics of this era and the future. We want to place the meaning of our work in practicing the existence of Korean architectural culture.

Living next to an urban mountain was the location of the house.
Living next to an urban mountain was the location of the house.
In order to maximize the use of the land, this house has an amorphous polyhedron shape.
In order to maximize the use of the land, this house has an amorphous polyhedron shape.
A topographic structure on the site's already existing, steeply sloping topography blends in with the surroundings.
A topographic structure on the site’s already existing, steeply sloping topography blends in with the surroundings.
A natural landscape "architectural hill," designed to complement the surrounding mountain range and the owner's desire to "live in nature."
A natural landscape “architectural hill,” designed to complement the surrounding mountain range and the owner’s desire to “live in nature.”
The living room is ideal since it has brilliant light from the glass walls and a red sofa that divides the room.
The living room is ideal since it has brilliant light from the glass walls and a red sofa that divides the room.
The interior is a blend of white and grey.
The interior is a blend of white and grey.
An attractive and functional living area should be created by a well-designed home's interior.
An attractive and functional living area should be created with a well-designed home interior.
The dining room has white furnishings and vibrant chairs, and the glass windows provide pleasant views.
The dining room has white furnishings and vibrant chairs, and the glass windows provide pleasant views.
The kitchen and dining have been integrated, and the appliances and cabinets are all white.
The kitchen and dining have been integrated, and the appliances and cabinets are all white.
The design matched the remaining rooms.
The design matched the remaining rooms.
The glass in the bedroom is what makes it so light.
The glass in the bedroom is what makes it so light.
There are several different types of vertical gardens, including leveling gardens, forecourt gardens, inner court gardens, stair gardens, water fall gardens, and roof gardens, all of which are continuously circling one another.
There are several different types of vertical gardens, including leveling gardens, forecourt gardens, inner court gardens, stair gardens, waterfall gardens, and roof gardens, all of which are continuously circling one another.
In the middle of the residential area, there were two tiny courtyards.
In the middle of the residential area, there were two tiny courtyards.
As a result, a completely enveloped this house's interior spaces in greenery.
As a result, a completely enveloped this house’s interior spaces in greenery.
Except for the skins along the road, this house is entirely covered with greenery and is surrounded by a variety of fruit trees.
Except for the skins along the road, this house is entirely covered with greenery and is surrounded by a variety of fruit trees.

“Hwa Hun” in Korean, the name of this house means “Blooming House”. The most important requirement was “Living in nature”. This site is located in the heart of Seoul, near the urban mountain “Bukhansan” mountain.

The shape of the site which is an irregular polyhedron has been the shape of this house to maximize the land use. We added the topographic architecture to the existing topography of the site which is steeply sloped to harmonize with the natural condition of the site.

We designed nature–scape architecture “an architectural hill”, to harmonize with the context of the surrounding mountains and to satisfy the owner’s requirement of “living in nature”. To maximize the area of the green garden, all the exterior spaces of this house are covered with green plants.

There are various leveled gardens, forecourt gardens, inner court gardens, stair gardens, waterfall gardens, and roof gardens, and all the vertical gardens are circulated each other continuously. Consequently, we buried all the inside spaces of this house in green nature.

All the skins of this house except the road–the side skins are covered with green plants and filled with various fruit trees.b This “architectural flower” will be blooming and going……, as time goes by, with the living life of a family of this house.

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