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Facades that pack a punch

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We've published quite a few ideabooks recently featuring a wide range of styles, from the rural  idyll captured by this subterranean hobbit-inspired home to the futuristic spikes of a space-ship like building in Seoul. As is probably apparent just from looking at a handful of some of South Korea's most noted recent architectural works, the country is a hotbed of creative talent in this field, producing some of the most exciting and diverse work to be found in Asia and beyond. With that in mind, let's explore just a few of the impressive examples of South Korean architectural innovation that have been uploaded to homify so far.

Hotel Manu, by UOS_aRCHITECTS

homify Modern houses

Hotel Manu, by UOS_aRCHITECTS

This hotel in Seoul plays with texture, light and glass all at once. With a surface spiked with protruding windows in a wide variety of sizes, it appears from a distance to have been sprinkled with fragments of broken glass. The result is something that seems to have come together almost by accident; the unpredictable size and shape of each row of windows, along with the sheer density of them, appears to have occurred through a spillage of glass pieces rather than by design. 

In addition, there is something hard and deliberately brutal about this wall - a feeling created by the spiked peaks of each glass section, which make the building appear dangerous and unapproachable.

The two-sided nature of each window means that the glow of light from within each is more visible than it might be through a conventional flay window; the light is emanating from two surfaces, after all.The same would be true of the way that daylight filters into the rooms within. The light would hit the walls and floor of the interior spaces at unconventional and unexpected angles. 

This hotel in Seoul plays with texture, light and glass all at once. With a surface spiked with protruding windows in a wide variety of sizes, it appears from a distance to have been sprinkled with fragments of broken glass. The result is something that seems to have come together almost by accident; the unpredictable size and shape of each row of windows, along with the sheer density of them, appears to have occurred through a spillage of glass pieces rather than by design. 

In addition, there is something hard and deliberately brutal about this wall - a feeling created by the spiked peaks of each glass section, which make the building appear dangerous and unapproachable.

The two-sided nature of each window means that the glow of light from within each is more visible than it might be through a conventional flay window; the light is emanating from two surfaces, after all.The same would be true of the way that daylight filters into the rooms within. The light would hit the walls and floor of the interior spaces at unconventional and unexpected angles. 

A better look

homify Modern houses

A better look

This daytime view gives a better look at the layout of those strange, angled windows.  

This daytime view gives a better look at the layout of those strange, angled windows.  

건원재, by SALT

건원재, 서현 서현 Modern houses

건원재, by SALT

In this building, texture once again plays a very important role. In this case the surface of the building is peppered with protrusions that mirror the appearance of the scattered shadows of tree leaves. In the foreground, on the grey part of the building, we can see a real tree shadow which illustrates how closely the building design has manged to replicate this look. 

Where the textured surface of the previous building has the effect of making it appear unapproachable and impersonal, this building seems natural and wholesome - partly because of the softer design of its texture, and partly because of the choice of material used for its main area.

In this building, texture once again plays a very important role. In this case the surface of the building is peppered with protrusions that mirror the appearance of the scattered shadows of tree leaves. In the foreground, on the grey part of the building, we can see a real tree shadow which illustrates how closely the building design has manged to replicate this look. 

Where the textured surface of the previous building has the effect of making it appear unapproachable and impersonal, this building seems natural and wholesome - partly because of the softer design of its texture, and partly because of the choice of material used for its main area.

Wooden wonder

건원재, 서현 서현 Modern houses

Wooden wonder

Up close, we can see how the warm, earthy shade of wood used here, and its rich, natural grain lend a welcoming air to this building's exterior. 

Up close, we can see how the warm, earthy shade of wood used here, and its rich, natural grain lend a welcoming air to this building's exterior. 

Dongtan home, by Choon Architect

동탄주택, 춘건축 춘건축 Modern houses

Dongtan home, by Choon Architect

One thing that many Korean architects have a tendency to do extremely well is angles, and in particular unexpected and subtle use of angles. This can be clearly observed in the design of this family home, which is comprised of several different elements that use angles in different ways. 

Most noticeable are the unusual V-shaped supports that hold up the overhang above the porch, but there are other instances of great angle usage here too. The roof slopes at an uneven angle behind the main red block of the upper storey, and its black edging follows a tick border that highlights the asymmetrical shape of the upper right-hand portion of the house. 

Over on the other edge of the house, meanwhile, a black protrusion from the lower floor creates an uneven surface to the wall. All in all, this is a very unpredictable building. 

One thing that many Korean architects have a tendency to do extremely well is angles, and in particular unexpected and subtle use of angles. This can be clearly observed in the design of this family home, which is comprised of several different elements that use angles in different ways. 

Most noticeable are the unusual V-shaped supports that hold up the overhang above the porch, but there are other instances of great angle usage here too. The roof slopes at an uneven angle behind the main red block of the upper storey, and its black edging follows a tick border that highlights the asymmetrical shape of the upper right-hand portion of the house. 

Over on the other edge of the house, meanwhile, a black protrusion from the lower floor creates an uneven surface to the wall. All in all, this is a very unpredictable building. 

Slow Island Trip Centre by Oujae Architects

청산도 느린섬 여행학교, (주)오우재건축사사무소 OUJAE Architects (주)오우재건축사사무소 OUJAE Architects Modern houses

Slow Island Trip Centre by Oujae Architects

This tourist centre was originally a schoolhouse, which took on its new ridged silhouette thanks to Oujae Architects demolishing the upper floor of the building and instead adding peaked wooden extensions onto the top of the building.

Each of these pointed sections is a separate holiday home, with the flat part of the roof in front providing roof terrace space. The contrast between the pale yellow stone of the original section of the building and the deep reddish shade of the wooden holiday homes above creates a warm contrast that balances the sharpness of the spiked elements.

This tourist centre was originally a schoolhouse, which took on its new ridged silhouette thanks to Oujae Architects demolishing the upper floor of the building and instead adding peaked wooden extensions onto the top of the building.

Each of these pointed sections is a separate holiday home, with the flat part of the roof in front providing roof terrace space. The contrast between the pale yellow stone of the original section of the building and the deep reddish shade of the wooden holiday homes above creates a warm contrast that balances the sharpness of the spiked elements.