Sugar Lump / UTAA

Sugar Lump / UTAA - TableSugar Lump / UTAA - Windows, FacadeSugar Lump / UTAA - Chair, Shelving, WindowsSugar Lump / UTAA - Windows, FacadeSugar Lump / UTAA - More Images+ 28

  • Architects: UTAA
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  709
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2014
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Park sehwon
Sugar Lump / UTAA - Windows, Facade
© Park sehwon

Text description provided by the architects. Besides the apartment, multi-housing in Korea is one of the most common housing.

Generally, on the low part of the multi-housing there is a parking lot, small shopping area or an office. The top floor among the upper three housing floor is mainly used by the owner of the whole housing.

Sugar Lump / UTAA - Windows, Facade
© Park sehwon

Multi-family housing, which is arranged in the location of Icheon, Gyeonggi-Do, is right next to a supermarket which is the end of the traditional market street holding ‘5days market’. The client hoped their multi-family housing to include two-floor of living facilities, upper part of lease for residence and a residence for the owner on the top floor.

Sugar Lump / UTAA - Windows, Facade
© Park sehwon

Before the client required a design, he had already received a design format made by other design office. But the result did not differ from other mediocre multi-family housing, so he ordered a new design. Although it is not situated on the main street, it is a place where is easily exposed to a traditional market and a big supermarket. He desired the street landscape to be full of energy more than anything.

Sugar Lump / UTAA - Bench
© Park sehwon

In the narrow street, the site had both diagonal plane control by street width and sunshine restriction. So in the middle of the process, almost every building type was terraced building type or diagonally shaped. But it lacked something, so we decided to start from the zero point.

Sugar Lump / UTAA - Image 17 of 33
First Floor Plan

We analyzed the existing multi-family housing again, noticed that those housing had balcony expanded, using the space for living room, rooms, or had a window on the balcony so that the three dimensional form disappears from the outside. Also based on the research, we realized that most of the users preferred to have external balcony rather than internal one.

Sugar Lump / UTAA - Chair, Shelving, Windows
© Park sehwon

Thus, to get away from the standardized appearance of the existing multi-family housing, we decided to arrange the open balcony on the outside of all housing, and use the diagonal plane control, sunshine restriction asa major element of the external facade design. Actually by connecting the inside and outside, the balcony is a small courtyard that can be used for laundry drying, storage, Jang-dok-dae(platform for crocks of sauces and condiments) and air conditioner outdoor unit.

Sugar Lump / UTAA - Image 20 of 33
Fourth Floor Plan

From the first stage, we suggested to use only one material for outside. Since there are so many materials, colors and signs that lead to distraction, we needed to tone down made the black granite stone to be greyish by testing various materials. Due to the glitter in Ma-cheon-suk is mostly used to show off the surrounding motel etc, however if the finish is dabbed the stone could convey different feelings using subtle color and sunlight, and also the special texture of the material.

Sugar Lump / UTAA - Facade
© Park sehwon

Because of its different appearance from neighborhood, too conspicuous material may be harmful to be recognized. This completion of construction gives the formative impression instead of oppressive atmosphere through the balcony that is rhythmically set and makes the street vitality and energy.

Sugar Lump / UTAA - Image 28 of 33
Section 2

Fortunately during the construction process, construction office and the officer could feel difficult but enjoyed the construction. So they could finish it, pleasantly until the end. The client is very satisfied about the fact that rent was rapidly completed in better conditions than other multi-family housing which was built in the same period.

Sugar Lump / UTAA - Image 8 of 33
© Park sehwon

The interesting thing is that the most advantageous person is not the construction office or the client but first-floor cafe owner.  It is widely considered that many people visit to explore the building itself.

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Project location

Address:Jungni-dong, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Sugar Lump / UTAA" 19 Jan 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/780578/sugar-lump-utaa> ISSN 0719-8884

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