The architectural elements of the house in Unjun-dong are grouped around a courtyard in the center forming a set of parallel lines. Although the house is humble in size, the path for human traffic inside it is spread out so people’s experience of the space can be maximized in movements. Indoor space was reduced down to secure more transition space where people can interact with the outside. Also, there exists a quasi-outdoor space resembling ‘Hanok’s daecheong maru’ which makes the house all the richer. Jeong Jae-heon, the architect, is proposing a house that embodies a set of values opposite from that of the typical Korean residence - hence, acquiring a form of richness instead of convenience. His project shows why the quasi-outdoor space is gaining more popularity in the Korean housing market where size used to matter the most.

This film is part of a series Open House Seoul is presenting for Open House Worldwide's Housing and the People. The series explores two themes. The first is the Elements of House, which delves into the housing culture in Korea and showcases emerging trends. It features two projects that offer alternatives to apartments, the dominant housing type in Korea. The second theme is Rewritten House and features two remodeling projects that not only extend the residual life of old houses but attempt to reconfigure their purpose and utility altogether.