Gahoe-dong Jungganjip (Middle House) takes its name from the Chinese characters 嘉 (ga, meaning “beautiful”) and 會 (hoe, meaning “gathering”),
carrying the meaning “a central house for joyful gatherings.” This project aimed to restore a neglected hanok into a facility that meets the
real needs of the community, placing Bukchon residents at the heart of the project and designing a space truly for them.
Concept
Gahoe-dong Middle House
The name “Gahoe-dong Middle House” combines the meanings of the Chinese characters 嘉 (ga, beautiful) and 會 (hoe, gathering) to
signify “a central house for joyful and pleasant gatherings.”
The project was centered around the residents of Bukchon, aiming to repurpose an abandoned hanok into a space that meets the real,
everyday needs of the local community—placing the people of Bukchon at the heart of the transformation.
BEFORE
AFTER
The design direction of the space is to enhance its versatility by creating one large, open area.
One of the reasons traditional hanoks have often been underutilized is that their interiors are divided into small, enclosed rooms with unclear
functions. Despite the inherent charm and potential of hanok architecture, these limitations have prevented the space from being fully utilized.
Before planning the space, we conducted multiple rounds of resident interviews and workshops.
Through this process, we identified several specific needs. First, there was a desire for a guest reception space—something like a sarangbang—where residents
could host friends, relatives, or visiting family members. They wanted a place outside their own homes where they could gather for meals or tea, and
occasionally offer a place to stay overnight. Second, residents emphasized the need for a space to foster community interaction. Bukchon has an active
local community, and many hoped for a shared area equipped with basic amenities like tables and a kitchen to support gatherings and communal activities.
These insights were actively reflected in the space planning.
These resident insights were actively incorporated into the spatial planning.
To begin with, we chose to remove the partition walls between the small rooms in order to create a single, open space. We also
opened up the previously enclosed ceiling, revealing the traditional hanok rafters to overcome the constraints of the low ceiling
height. In addition, we boldly removed the walls and traditional window frames facing the inner courtyard, replacing them with large windows and doors. This created a spacious area that visually and spatially connects the interior with the exterior.
We defined this open area as the “living room” of the Jungganjip (literally, “house in the middle”) and assigned it the role of
a community gathering space for Bukchon residents—accommodating events such as village meetings, celebrations, and first-birthday
parties (doljanchi). To support the functionality of the living room and increase its usability, we placed a kitchen directly adjacent
to it. The kitchen includes only the essentials for simple cooking, arranged in a C-shaped layout to allow 1–2 people to work comfortably at the same time.
For the adjacent jeoksan gaok (Japanese-style house), whose function was previously unclear, we proposed a plan that redefines its
use without physical alterations. The goal for the first floor was to create a semi-private space, reminiscent of a hanok’s living
room, where individuals can relax, enjoy personal time, chat in small groups, or occasionally watch a film. We defined this space
as a “study” and furnished it with comfortable sofas, tables, and storage that support its intended use.
The second floor of the Adjacent House has been designed to function as a detached annex, clearly distinguished from the first floor. It offers essential
amenities for short stays by visiting friends or relatives of residents, including a bed for two and a small table. Since the space is not exclusively used
as a guest room, it can also serve as a workspace or area for individual activities. When used as an annex, the study on the first floor can complement
the second-floor space, allowing for flexible and mutually supportive use of the overall area.
A view of the courtyard from the living room.
Large windows and doors establish both spatial and visual continuity from the courtyard through to the living room and kitchen.
By removing the enclosed ceiling and exposing the traditional hanok rafters, the space fully captures the unique architectural essence of a hanok.
The signage for “Gahoe-dong Middle House” was developed as part of the project.
It combines the Chinese characters for “meeting” (會) and “middle” (中) into a single
design through a composition of straight lines and circular forms.
This is the view from the kitchen looking out into the courtyard.
The ㄷ-shaped kitchen is designed for one or two people to work simultaneously and includes the essential functions for simple cooking.
The furniture and objects in the study are sustainable design pieces that we personally designed and produced.
They include a table, bookends, and a clock made from upcycled panels created by crushing empty bottles.
The second floor of the Western-style house is a separate guest space.
It serves as accommodation for one or two people, and the long table on
the left allows for simple work when the space is not being used for lodging.
From the early stages of the project, we focused on capturing the stories of the people of Bukchon.
Although each person had a different reason for settling in Bukchon, we aimed to uncover their needs
by listening to their personal memories, the ways they preserve those memories, and the “Bukchon stories” heard
from fellow residents—building authenticity and earning empathy for the project.
Summary
Gahoe-dong Jungganjip (Middle House) takes its name from the Chinese characters 嘉 (ga, meaning “beautiful”) and 會 (hoe, meaning “gathering”), carrying the meaning “a
central house for joyful gatherings.” This project aimed to restore a neglected hanok into a facility that meets the real needs of the community, placing Bukchon residents
at the heart of the project and designing a space truly for them.
Concept
Gahoe-dong Middle House
The name “Gahoe-dong Middle House” combines the meanings of the Chinese characters 嘉 (ga, beautiful) and 會 (hoe, gathering) to signify “a
central house for joyful and pleasant gatherings.”
The project was centered around the residents of Bukchon, aiming to repurpose an abandoned hanok into a space that meets the real, everyday
needs of the local community—placing the people of Bukchon at the heart of the transformation.
The design direction of the space is to enhance its versatility by creating one large, open area.
One of the reasons traditional hanoks have often been underutilized is that their interiors are divided into small,
enclosed rooms with unclear functions. Despite the inherent charm and potential of hanok architecture, these limitations
have prevented the space from being fully utilized.
These resident insights were actively incorporated into the spatial planning.
To begin with, we chose to remove the partition walls between the small rooms in order to create a single, open space. We also opened up the
previously enclosed ceiling, revealing the traditional hanok rafters to overcome the constraints of the low ceiling height. In addition, we
boldly removed the walls and traditional window frames facing the inner courtyard, replacing them with large windows and doors. This created
a spacious area that visually and spatially connects the interior with the exterior.
We defined this open area as the “living room” of the Jungganjip (literally, “house in the middle”) and assigned it the role of a community gathering
space for Bukchon residents—accommodating events such as village meetings, celebrations, and first-birthday parties (doljanchi). To support the
functionality of the living room and increase its usability, we placed a kitchen directly adjacent to it. The kitchen includes only the essentials
for simple cooking, arranged in a C-shaped layout to allow 1–2 people to work comfortably at the same time.
The signage for “Gahoe-dong Middle House” was developed as part of the project.
It combines the Chinese characters for “meeting” (會) and “middle” (中) into a single
design through a composition of straight lines and circular forms.
For the adjacent jeoksan gaok (Japanese-style house), whose function was previously unclear, we proposed a plan that redefines its use
without physical alterations. The goal for the first floor was to create a semi-private space, reminiscent of a hanok’s living room,
where individuals can relax, enjoy personal time, chat in small groups, or occasionally watch a film. We defined this space as a “study”
and furnished it with comfortable sofas, tables, and storage that support its intended use.
The second floor of the Adjacent House has been designed to function as a detached annex, clearly distinguished from the first floor.
It offers essential amenities for short stays by visiting friends or relatives of residents, including a bed for two and a small table.
Since the space is not exclusively used as a guest room, it can also serve as a workspace or area for individual activities. When used
as an annex, the study on the first floor can complement the second-floor space, allowing for flexible and mutually supportive use of
the overall area.
