Saturday, June 28, 2025
  • About C3
  • Advertising
C3GLOBE
  • Latest
    EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025

    EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025

    Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House

    Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House

    Museum Of Motorcycles

    Museum Of Motorcycles

    Savannah 8

    Savannah 8

    Khanong Phra Campsite

    Khanong Phra Campsite

    Yongin Yeonliji

    Yongin Yeonliji

    Seolhaeone ClubHouse

    Seolhaeone ClubHouse

    The Biomista

    The Biomista

    Neuhoff District

    Neuhoff District

  • Architecture
    • All
    • Asia
    • China
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • World
    Mandalas Pop-up Digital Art Museum

    Mandalas Pop-up Digital Art Museum

    Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House

    Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House

    Museum Of Motorcycles

    Museum Of Motorcycles

    Savannah 8

    Savannah 8

    Kugenuma-Y House

    Kugenuma-Y House

    Yongin Yeonliji

    Yongin Yeonliji

    Khanong Phra Campsite

    Khanong Phra Campsite

    Seolhaeone ClubHouse

    Seolhaeone ClubHouse

    The Biomista

    The Biomista

  • Competitions
    • All
    • Call for Entries
    • Results
    EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025

    EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025

    BIG Wins International Competition for Hungarian Natural History Museum in Debrecen

    BIG Wins International Competition for Hungarian Natural History Museum in Debrecen

    Six finalists for Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Expansion

    Six finalists for Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Expansion

    Montjuïc Exhibition Center Remodeling – Barcelona Expo 100th Anniversary Competition Result

    Montjuïc Exhibition Center Remodeling – Barcelona Expo 100th Anniversary Competition Result

    Five designs selected for Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design competition

    Five designs selected for Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design competition

    Mextrópoli 2025 Pavilion

    Mextrópoli 2025 Pavilion

    RSHP and TJAD Unveil Plans for Phase 2 of Zhongyuan Convention Center

    RSHP and TJAD Unveil Plans for Phase 2 of Zhongyuan Convention Center

    2024 Skyscraper Competition winners announced

    2024 Skyscraper Competition winners announced

    ‘SIAPLAN + 3XN + MDA’ Consortium wins Chungnam Arts Center International Design Competition

    ‘SIAPLAN + 3XN + MDA’ Consortium wins Chungnam Arts Center International Design Competition

  • News
    2025 Serpentine Pavilion ‘A Capsule in Time’ Unveiled

    2025 Serpentine Pavilion ‘A Capsule in Time’ Unveiled

    Exhibition ‘Capital Reform’ Showcases Young Madrid Architects’ architectural experiments and potential

    Exhibition ‘Capital Reform’ Showcases Young Madrid Architects’ architectural experiments and potential

    Danish Architecture Center Hosts the ‘Recycle!’ Exhibition

    Danish Architecture Center Hosts the ‘Recycle!’ Exhibition

    ‘Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams’ exhibition opens in DDP

    ‘Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams’ exhibition opens in DDP

    For All That Breathes on Earth: Jung Youngsun and Collaborators in Venice

    For All That Breathes on Earth: Jung Youngsun and Collaborators in Venice

    Henning Larsen’s Evolving Bio Pavilion ‘Growing Matter(s)’

    Henning Larsen’s Evolving Bio Pavilion ‘Growing Matter(s)’

    Nexus Seoul Next 100: City Architect Partners Forum

    Nexus Seoul Next 100: City Architect Partners Forum

    Foster + Partners Unveils Design for Manchester United’s New Stadium

    Foster + Partners Unveils Design for Manchester United’s New Stadium

    Nexus Seoul Next 100: City Architect Partners Forum

    Nexus Seoul Next 100: City Architect Partners Forum

  • :
  • C3Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
    EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025

    EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025

    Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House

    Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House

    Museum Of Motorcycles

    Museum Of Motorcycles

    Savannah 8

    Savannah 8

    Khanong Phra Campsite

    Khanong Phra Campsite

    Yongin Yeonliji

    Yongin Yeonliji

    Seolhaeone ClubHouse

    Seolhaeone ClubHouse

    The Biomista

    The Biomista

    Neuhoff District

    Neuhoff District

  • Architecture
    • All
    • Asia
    • China
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • World
    Mandalas Pop-up Digital Art Museum

    Mandalas Pop-up Digital Art Museum

    Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House

    Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House

    Museum Of Motorcycles

    Museum Of Motorcycles

    Savannah 8

    Savannah 8

    Kugenuma-Y House

    Kugenuma-Y House

    Yongin Yeonliji

    Yongin Yeonliji

    Khanong Phra Campsite

    Khanong Phra Campsite

    Seolhaeone ClubHouse

    Seolhaeone ClubHouse

    The Biomista

    The Biomista

  • Competitions
    • All
    • Call for Entries
    • Results
    EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025

    EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025

    BIG Wins International Competition for Hungarian Natural History Museum in Debrecen

    BIG Wins International Competition for Hungarian Natural History Museum in Debrecen

    Six finalists for Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Expansion

    Six finalists for Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Expansion

    Montjuïc Exhibition Center Remodeling – Barcelona Expo 100th Anniversary Competition Result

    Montjuïc Exhibition Center Remodeling – Barcelona Expo 100th Anniversary Competition Result

    Five designs selected for Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design competition

    Five designs selected for Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design competition

    Mextrópoli 2025 Pavilion

    Mextrópoli 2025 Pavilion

    RSHP and TJAD Unveil Plans for Phase 2 of Zhongyuan Convention Center

    RSHP and TJAD Unveil Plans for Phase 2 of Zhongyuan Convention Center

    2024 Skyscraper Competition winners announced

    2024 Skyscraper Competition winners announced

    ‘SIAPLAN + 3XN + MDA’ Consortium wins Chungnam Arts Center International Design Competition

    ‘SIAPLAN + 3XN + MDA’ Consortium wins Chungnam Arts Center International Design Competition

  • News
    2025 Serpentine Pavilion ‘A Capsule in Time’ Unveiled

    2025 Serpentine Pavilion ‘A Capsule in Time’ Unveiled

    Exhibition ‘Capital Reform’ Showcases Young Madrid Architects’ architectural experiments and potential

    Exhibition ‘Capital Reform’ Showcases Young Madrid Architects’ architectural experiments and potential

    Danish Architecture Center Hosts the ‘Recycle!’ Exhibition

    Danish Architecture Center Hosts the ‘Recycle!’ Exhibition

    ‘Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams’ exhibition opens in DDP

    ‘Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams’ exhibition opens in DDP

    For All That Breathes on Earth: Jung Youngsun and Collaborators in Venice

    For All That Breathes on Earth: Jung Youngsun and Collaborators in Venice

    Henning Larsen’s Evolving Bio Pavilion ‘Growing Matter(s)’

    Henning Larsen’s Evolving Bio Pavilion ‘Growing Matter(s)’

    Nexus Seoul Next 100: City Architect Partners Forum

    Nexus Seoul Next 100: City Architect Partners Forum

    Foster + Partners Unveils Design for Manchester United’s New Stadium

    Foster + Partners Unveils Design for Manchester United’s New Stadium

    Nexus Seoul Next 100: City Architect Partners Forum

    Nexus Seoul Next 100: City Architect Partners Forum

  • :
  • C3Magazine
No Result
View All Result
C3GLOBE
No Result
View All Result
Home Architecture Korea

House in Jisan-ri

In pursuit of optimal site planning aligned with the terrain

studio GAON

“Saying the land doesn’t matter—how could that be true?” This rhetorical response from the architect to a question about the importance of land brings us back to the fundamental relationship between architecture and its site. The architect likened the process of understanding a plot of land to “entering a dark theater and waiting until your eyes adjust to the dim light.” Particularly in Korea, land transcends the role of a mere physical backdrop, embodying layers of cultural, climatic, and historical context.
During a lecture on the identity of Korean architecture at a university in Philadelphia, the architect highlighted Korea’s “folded land,” where 70% of the country is mountainous. This rugged topography, combined with a climate characterized by distinct seasons and an annual temperature range exceeding 50°C, has shaped a unique architectural landscape and worldview. Over centuries, Korean architecture has been grounded in a philosophy of reverence for nature, respect for the land, and alignment with its flow.

House in Jisan-ri exemplifies this deep understanding of land and local context. Nestled in a tranquil forest near Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, the site exudes a sense of depth and stillness, akin to stepping into an ancient forest. Surrounding mountains stand solid and imposing, while clusters of pine trees envelop the area. Listening to the rhythm and spirit of the land, the architect drew inspiration for the design from its inherent atmosphere and flow.
The form and structure of the house reflect the clear preferences and needs of the client: a simple, uncluttered layout with a high, spacious kitchen and living area, and views of multiple gardens from every direction. The client also desired a refined, minimalist home that, like the architect’s earlier work House in Geumsan, reinterprets traditional aesthetics in a contemporary way.
Respecting these requirements, House in Jisan-ri was designed to harmonize with the land’s flow rather than disrupt it. The building mass was carefully adjusted to avoid obstructing the natural sightlines of the opposing mountains. Its elongated form preserves the density of the overlapping hills and forest. The rooms are all oriented southward, a layout commonly seen in traditional Korean homes.
The transition from exterior to interior was thoughtfully arranged to maintain a seamless connection with the land and nature. The exposed rafters of the thin, long roof enhance the modern silhouette, while the sturdy interior columns, reminiscent of traditional Korean timber structures, provide a sense of stability. On the second floor, open views to the front and back are secured, and a maru—a traditional Korean intermediate space—creates a flexible boundary between inside and outside.

A narrow wooden veranda between the living room and garden offers a place to sit and reflect, while gardens stretching outward in all directions draw the surrounding landscape into the house. Within these intersecting views, the house transcends functional boundaries to become a conduit for interaction between nature and the gaze. Ultimately, the true protagonist of this design is not the building itself but the nature and gardens encircling it.
House in Jisan-ri demonstrates how architecture can find its rightful place by aligning with the terrain. Resting gently on the terrain, the house embraces the forest, mountains, wind, and sunlight, coexisting harmoniously with its surroundings. This serene landscape, born from mutual respect, will gather more stories as time passes.

Project: House in Jisan-ri / Location: Jisan-ri, Habuk-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea / Architect: studio GAON (Hyoungnam Lim, Eunjoo Roh) / Project Team: Sungpil Lee, Seongwon Son, Joowon Moon, Laeyeon Kim, Minwoo Lee / Supervision: studio GAON / Use : House / Site area: 944m² / Bldg. area: 155.79m² / Gross floor area: 199.47m² / Bldg. coverage ratio: 16.503% / Gross floor ratio: 21.130% / Bldg. scale: two stories above ground / Height: 8.30m / Structure: Wood Frame Construction / Photograph: ©Park Youngchae (courtesy of the architect)

Tags: houseKoreawoodYangsan


Related Posts

EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025
Latest

EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025

The results of the EUmies Awards Young Talent 2025, a platform for exploring the future...

byc3editor
2025-06-27
Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House
Korea

Cheongpa-dong 90-year-old House

Minimal Intervention in ninety years of memory Isak Chung + a.co.lab At the end of...

byc3editor
2025-06-25
Museum Of Motorcycles
Latest

Museum Of Motorcycles

Three wooden pavilions connecting exhibition narratives DRAA The Pan-American Highway, stretching from the northernmost point...

byc3editor
2025-06-24
Savannah 8
Latest

Savannah 8

Raw concrete blocks assimilating in its rugged surroundings  Ateljé Ö Located in Bungenäs, a peninsula...

byc3editor
2025-06-23
Khanong Phra Campsite
Asia

Khanong Phra Campsite

Lightweight and adaptable black canopies and stone walls to protect sun and wind PHTAA In...

byc3editor
2025-06-18
Yongin Yeonliji
Korea

Yongin Yeonliji

A reconciliation guided by the will to integrate beyond differences L’EAU Design Located in an...

byc3editor
2025-06-18
Next Post
Sacré-Coeur House

Sacré-Coeur House

  • About C3
  • Advertising
C3GLOBE

© All rights reserved. K-ARCHITECTURE | 18 GongHangDaeRo 2Gil GangSeo-gu Seoul 07622 Korea | Tel_+82 2 2661 1513 | Email_editorial@c3globe.com

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
  • Architecture
    • Asia
    • China
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • World
  • Competitions
    • Call for Entries
    • Results
  • News
  • —
  • About C3
  • Advertising

© All rights reserved. K-ARCHITECTURE | 18 GongHangDaeRo 2Gil GangSeo-gu Seoul 07622 Korea | Tel_+82 2 2661 1513 | Email_editorial@c3globe.com