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Architects: ADF Architects
- Area: 205 m²
- Year: 2013
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Photographs:Park Young-Chae
Text description provided by the architects. This property is located is about 5 minutes away from the main road that links Daegu and Chungdo. Despite its proximity to the traffic, it gets quiet once you enter into town. There are gentle hills in the background when you look at this town from a distance. Dansanli welcomes its visitors with a sense of familiarity.
The property is enclosed by the straight road to the south, which was extended to farm roads, and the curved road that is located to the west. The town was shaped over a long time by the force of nature. The southern part of the property is elevated, so the northern part provides a serene view of the surroundings.
Common residential areas contain the hills and the mountains in the background, and this view is an essential part of this town. Therefore, the starting point of Dansanli House was to add new volume, colors, and texture, while complying with the existing flow and order of the town. Although it was not an easy task, the smell of chimney smoke that filled the dim evening sky inspired the development of this project.
The spatial zoning of Dansanli House contains primary living space, such as living room, dining room (kitchen), master bedroom, and also supplementary living space like guestroom and spare rooms that could be utilized for various activities including music and prayers. The floor plan was designed to separate living room, dining room, and guestroom according to their atmospheric and emotional aspects.
Various areas of the plan become each other's view (*crossing view and the outside scenery) and background. The living room widely spreads from the central point, the fireplace, and its space maximizes the amount of light exposure in the morning. Like traditional Korean houses, the kitchen is placed in the center of the whole house to be the vertical and horizontal focal point. The layout connects the line of view 'from the kitchen to the deck and living room,' and 'from the kitchen to the courtyard, balcony, and guestroom.' This was achieved by interpreting the traditional Korean architectural techniques that coordinate movement and rest, or open and close.
Master bedroom is private due to the bordering bathroom with no windows and a dressing room to the west. Also, the outdoor shower was added for summer. The stairs incorporated modern design and face the courtyard with the skylight brining the focus to the top. In the second floor, the windows were minimized to give the outside scenery a sense of rarity.
Windows can be opened and closed depending on the outside weather, and they are designed to promote interplay between the light and the building's walls and floors. The exterior finish used materials that seem to blend in with the surrounding nature. In fact, the exposed mass concrete and cedar finish seem consistent with Dansanli's true character.
Architecture is often objectified by its external characters. However, the true spirit of architecture is represented by its use of space and the order within. The space, visual guide, and floor planning could control the actions of those that use the building. Architecture, ultimately, is a form of human expression.
Architecture is a living process that considers its use, size, presentation and various theories. Fine households are completed by the user's lessons of the past and dreams of the future, as well as life philosophies. Therefore, interpretation of purpose and the understanding of human conditions are the keys to great architecture.
Originally published on 6 November, 2014.
