082 PROJECT MOYEOGAencounter these shifts at a natural pace.
MoYeoGa’s architect was devoted to
applying his experience to the project
rather than embarking on a new adventure.
His approach in MoYeoGa is similar to
that of previous projects such as Inter-
White (covered in SPACE issue 579). In
this project, the stair landing was widened
to adjust the stairs to fit in the irregularly-
shaped site. The stair landing is wide
enough for two people to sit and have a
chat. At that time, the architect said that he
wanted to make this residual space useful
in some small way. It is a corridor and a
passageway with another function after this
subtle change, and this idea was expanded
upon in MoYeoGa. Shifting each unit little
by little, he made part of the corridor lying
between two units more spacious, while the
wall inside the unit is not straight, providing
a different purpose here and there.
Making something different by subtly
shifting the wall; introducing this change
and additional use to the typical function of
a hallway; this is how MoYeoGa has been
designed part and whole, and how the units
and common spaces have been planned.
Architect Oh created two boundaries in
the unit. The first is through windows and
openings, some of them offering views
through the windows or opening towards a
private garden, and others towards a shared
garden or passage leading to another unit.
The windows are always open towards a
certain direction, sometimes open to a
direction with no infringement of privacy,
and sometimes towards a neighbouring
unit, and the boundary can open or close
selectively.
The second boundary is the public space
and outdoor space of each unit, which is
connected to the rooftop, garden, or to the
entranceway of other unit. Some parts have
been altered due to the different angles
of connection, and some parts have been
expanded so as to accommodate a small
garden in between. A garden for a tree wasadded according to request, and a storage
unit for fishing tools was placed in the free
space in front of the house as recreation
space.
The public space was known as the second
boundary because it was an extension of
the private space, not a self-contained,
special space. An extra space for meetings
has been provided on the first floor, but
MoYeoGa’s defining essence lies with
the fact that the private space has been
extended to encourage residents to meet
each other. A part of the alley has been
transformed into a private space to help
orchestrate such encounters, and the
subtle coordination of the space means
some parts have remained private and
while others are shared, as if we shared
everyday life by gathering around the low
wooden bench as in days past. If there is a
difference worth marking out, it would be
the first boundary established to provide
for those who are not accustomed to such
a close-knit lifestyle, to help them slowly
adapt to the community.
It can’t be compared to the apartment
house, but the private unit itself can be
made closed by adjusting its first boundary.
It may be opened towards the second
boundary. One comes across others a few
times each day, however, more often than
not people encounter each other at the
second boundary, which seems a bit more
private as opposed to confronting each
other in unfamiliar spaces; in other words,
from within one’s own space one faces
others who are in their space. On the way to
work or when taking the garbage out they
encounter their neighbours and say hello.
Then they may choose to gather at one
house and drink beer together. Children
also make regular contact. When a child
visits another house to play with a friend
and the parents call the friend’s parents
to say that they will have dinner together,
this often leads to an invitation to dinner
too. It may also create contact points bytaking turns caring a child whose parents are
working at night. As such, the first boundary
is opened. They visit another home through
the terrace in the private space, not via the
entrance.
Oh has interviewed the residents in groups
and individually, reflecting on their demands
faithfully; a tree, a wide entrance hall, private
garden space, and a window with a view
to children’s room from the living room.
After the design proposal was completed,
families gathered to choose their own
house, and it took only two hours. It wouldn’t
have been that easy, but it was claimed by
many that it was easier than expected as
the requirements of each member are well
reflected in each unit.
The project leaves something to be desired.
The architect designed MoYeoGa imagining
what could happen in a certain space based
on his experience of building another house,
and borrowed a morphological vocabulary
that would signal his name as an architect.
The mass at the front along the road is the
result of referring back to Inter-White. As the
angle was set differently on each floor, a gap
has occurred between the window and the
wall due to the structure between the third
and fourth floors at the rear. Even though
this may be a minor issue, which also seems
like it could gave an alteration made during
the construction process, it appears to me
to have been a discrepancy between the
architect’s desire and natural architecture.
I pay my tributes and give my praise to the
success of this project, but I would like to
consider whether if Oh Sinwook cannot
escape from what he has achieved so far by
being recognised as a promising architect.
I think this is an important point for Oh
Sinwook in his journey as an architect. I hope
he can break out of this prescriptive frame
and take it one step further.082 PROJECT MOYEOGA
encounter these shifts at a natural pace.
MoYeoGa’s architect was devoted to
applying his experience to the project
rather than embarking on a new adventure.
His approach in MoYeoGa is similar to
that of previous projects such as Inter-
White (covered in SPACE issue 579). In
this project, the stair landing was widened
to adjust the stairs to fit in the irregularly-
shaped site. The stair landing is wide
enough for two people to sit and have a
chat. At that time, the architect said that he
wanted to make this residual space useful
in some small way. It is a corridor and a
passageway with another function after this
subtle change, and this idea was expanded
upon in MoYeoGa. Shifting each unit little
by little, he made part of the corridor lying
between two units more spacious, while the
wall inside the unit is not straight, providing
a different purpose here and there.
Making something different by subtly
shifting the wall; introducing this change
and additional use to the typical function of
a hallway; this is how MoYeoGa has been
designed part and whole, and how the units
and common spaces have been planned.
Architect Oh created two boundaries in
the unit. The first is through windows and
openings, some of them offering views
through the windows or opening towards a
private garden, and others towards a shared
garden or passage leading to another unit.
The windows are always open towards a
certain direction, sometimes open to a
direction with no infringement of privacy,
and sometimes towards a neighbouring
unit, and the boundary can open or close
selectively.
The second boundary is the public space
and outdoor space of each unit, which is
connected to the rooftop, garden, or to the
entranceway of other unit. Some parts have
been altered due to the different angles
of connection, and some parts have been
expanded so as to accommodate a small
garden in between. A garden for a tree wasadded according to request, and a storage
unit for fishing tools was placed in the free
space in front of the house as recreation
space.
The public space was known as the second
boundary because it was an extension of
the private space, not a self-contained,
special space. An extra space for meetings
has been provided on the first floor, but
MoYeoGa’s defining essence lies with
the fact that the private space has been
extended to encourage residents to meet
each other. A part of the alley has been
transformed into a private space to help
orchestrate such encounters, and the
subtle coordination of the space means
some parts have remained private and
while others are shared, as if we shared
everyday life by gathering around the low
wooden bench as in days past. If there is a
difference worth marking out, it would be
the first boundary established to provide
for those who are not accustomed to such
a close-knit lifestyle, to help them slowly
adapt to the community.
It can’t be compared to the apartment
house, but the private unit itself can be
made closed by adjusting its first boundary.
It may be opened towards the second
boundary. One comes across others a few
times each day, however, more often than
not people encounter each other at the
second boundary, which seems a bit more
private as opposed to confronting each
other in unfamiliar spaces; in other words,
from within one’s own space one faces
others who are in their space. On the way to
work or when taking the garbage out they
encounter their neighbours and say hello.
Then they may choose to gather at one
house and drink beer together. Children
also make regular contact. When a child
visits another house to play with a friend
and the parents call the friend’s parents
to say that they will have dinner together,
this often leads to an invitation to dinner
too. It may also create contact points bytaking turns caring a child whose parents are
working at night. As such, the first boundary
is opened. They visit another home through
the terrace in the private space, not via the
entrance.
Oh has interviewed the residents in groups
and individually, reflecting on their demands
faithfully; a tree, a wide entrance hall, private
garden space, and a window with a view
to children’s room from the living room.
After the design proposal was completed,
families gathered to choose their own
house, and it took only two hours. It wouldn’t
have been that easy, but it was claimed by
many that it was easier than expected as
the requirements of each member are well
reflected in each unit.
The project leaves something to be desired.
The architect designed MoYeoGa imagining
what could happen in a certain space based
on his experience of building another house,
and borrowed a morphological vocabulary
that would signal his name as an architect.
The mass at the front along the road is the
result of referring back to Inter-White. As the
angle was set differently on each floor, a gap
has occurred between the window and the
wall due to the structure between the third
and fourth floors at the rear. Even though
this may be a minor issue, which also seems
like it could gave an alteration made during
the construction process, it appears to me
to have been a discrepancy between the
architect’s desire and natural architecture.
I pay my tributes and give my praise to the
success of this project, but I would like to
consider whether if Oh Sinwook cannot
escape from what he has achieved so far by
being recognised as a promising architect.
I think this is an important point for Oh
Sinwook in his journey as an architect. I hope
he can break out of this prescriptive frame
and take it one step further.