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Housing Typologies
Housing Typologies Hanok / 한옥
Hanok is a traditional Korean house which originated during the 14th century, Joseon Era. Hanok are wooden frame structures composed of rectangular modules, bays, called ‘Kan/칸’. There is a core bay, which refers to the bay located in the center of the front or side. It is usually larger than other bays to emphasize frontality of the Hanok. There are side bays, which refer to the bays on either side of the core bay and lastly, there are half-sized bays. ‘Ondol/온돌’ is a heated flooring system that was invented in the 12th century and spread throughout the Korean peninsula by the 17th century. Beneath the hanok’s flooring, heat from a furnace is transferred through a flue channel which heats the hanok’s floor tiles.
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Due to the incorporation of ondol into dai- ly life, cleanliness of floors and a practice of removing shoes when entering the house hold was emphasized as Koreans became accus- tomed to sitting and sleeping on the floor and working and eating from low tables. These days, Korean households use a modernized version of ondol involving hot water heat- ed pipes which run under the floor boards.
Traditional Modern
Core Bay +Side Bays +Half-sized Bays
Hanok houses are found to be an architectural mixture of ‘ㅡ,’ ‘ㄴ,’ ‘ㄷ,’ and ‘ㅁ’ and shapes. The shapes are particular to region. In colder, northern regions, ‘ㄷ’ and ‘ㅁ,’ shapes are preferred to block wind flow. In warmer, southern regions, the ‘ㅡ’ and ‘ㄴ’ shaped hanok is preferred for because it is open to wind penetration. Hanok is known for its large and sloping roof. The roof’s iconic, geometric shape is caused by the nature of its construction and materiality. The roofing material can include tiles, stone, straw, and bark. For existing Hanok, the most popular roof material is ‘Giwa/ 기와,’ a roof tile made from sun baked clay.
The Hanok roof protects the entire building in various types of weather. In the summer, the roof provides shade with its wide eaves and protects the walls and windows from rain. In the winter, the roof offers shelter from wind and snow while allowing the winter sun to penetrate into the hanok.
‘ㅡ’ ‘ㄴ’ ‘ㄷ’ ‘ㅁ’
Summer Angle
Hanok layout is characterized by the location of the main hall, ‘Daecheong/대청.’ The Daecheong had a raised, wooden floor called ’Maru/ 마루’ which allowed wind to cool the space. The Daecheong was placed centrally, in order to provide direct access to other rooms such as the kitchen and bedrooms which were situated radially to ensure spatial efficiency.
The Daecheong acts as a communal space that provides the family a sense of being together while maintaining their autonomous lives in separate, compartmentalized rooms. Similarly, wall openings, interior windows, and sliding doors are used to merge and separate public and private spaces within the house.
Common Daecheong Layouts
For the Hanok, the courtyard is one of the most prominent areas of the house. The courtyard, known as ‘Madang/마당,’ was not a garden and was instead, intentionally left mostly empty. This is because the natural environment surrounding the hanok was considered its garden. The courtyard is seen as an extension of the ground floor, blending the indoors and out.
Courtyard Arrangements
Rarely going over 1 story in height, urban Hanok residential areas spread horizontally rather than vertically. Hanok were built side by side directly next to the street for more effective land use. ‘ㅡ’ shaped hanok were left behind for the more angular hanok shapes in order to resolve land shortage issues.
Korean doors and windows are multi fold and some doors can act as dividers for larger spaces. The doors are made with wood and traditional Korean paper called ‘Hanji/ 한지’ that is coated with oil to make it waterproof and polished. The breathe-able paper allows for improved air circulation, moisture control and sun shading.
The doors, windows, and furniture of the hanok are decorated with traditional Korean patterns called ‘Moonyang/문양.’ The visual effect of traditional, Korean patterns convey inherent Korean values as they are inspired by order in nature, traditional characters and symbols, etc.
Officetel building use Horizontal type access. Units are arranged along an internal, shared corridor, creating an ‘endless corridor’ effect. The corridor connects to a circulation core which is spaced an appropriate distance from others cores. This layout maximizes the amount of people per circulation core, reducing the amount of circulation cores needed throughout the building.
High rise residential buildings are the most common housing type in South Korea today as they accommodate for a high density of residents and are compact, making them compatible with the urban landscape. The main high rise building types are apartments with several bedrooms to accommodate for multiple family members and the ‘Officetel/오 피스텔’ which accommodates 1-2 residents.
The Officetel was introduced in the 1980s’s and became more widespread in the 1990’s-2000’s. It converts urban zones dedicated to business activities into housing. Officetel is widely con- sidered the most modern housing type in South Korea, and unlike the apartment which is a western influence, the officetel is an authentic product of South Korea’s contemporary culture, reflecting a need for fast and economic housing.
Overall, the officetel is a compact volume containing small, multi-purpose, individual cells. Where the apartment layout tends to have more variation in plan, the officetel layout is strictly controlled for maximum efficiency of space.
Apartment Layout Officetel Layout ‘Endless Corridor’
In comparison, apartment buildings use vertical type access, where apartments are accessed directly via a shared circulation core. Sharing the core between pairs of apartments create a more private experience for residents. These circulation cores are commonly found in bar, block, and plus shapes.
Vertical Circulation Core Types
Currently, there is an increased public interest in Sick Building Syndrome. Sick building syndrome (SBS) is used to describe a situation in which a building occupant experiences health or comfort related effects linked to time spent in the building. It is usually a result of chemical fumes from cheap materials in combination with poor ventilation systems. With a building culture that strives for cheap and fast construction, South Koreans have become sensitized to this issue. In 2004, the South Korean Government passed the Indoor Air Quality Control in Public-Use Facilities, Etc. act to regulate building construction and prevent the occurrence of SBS cases.
Lack of park and green space is also a concern for South Koreans. The concept of parks and green spaces as planned facilities was introduced in the late 19th and early 20th century as a byproduct of modernization. Park accessibility impacts the price of housing in Seoul and suggests Seoul residents’ dissatisfaction with their residential environment. In 2006, the Seoul Metropolitan Government set mandatory percentages of park and green space in new housing construction projects.
A new variation of the Officetel includes a loft or a second floor. Though ceiling heights rarely exceed 2.3 meters (around 7’7”) the ceiling height for officetel units are limited to 3.3 meters (around 10’8”). This allows for a non-walkable, lofted mezzanine, 1 meter (a little over 3’) in height dedicated to sleeping. It is usually placed above the wet zone (bathroom and kitchen). views and private terrace space, they are some of the cheapest residences available in the Korean housing market due to inconveniences of too cold winters and too hot summers.
Rooftop House
South Korea’s low-income households, the poorest 20%, spend an estimated 50% of their income on housing, leaving little else for other basic needs such as food and medicine.
Though they are criticized for their lack of charm, officetels are a product of investment logic. They are pragmatic and economic. Further more, they are easily integrable into the urban fabric, mixing housing with professional activities.
Officetel Loft
Though the lofted officetel unit is attractive for its heightened ceiling and separated bedroom and living space, drawbacks include the low ceiling height on the lofted floor and the increased space to heat during the winter.
‘Oktop/옥탑’, in Korean means ‘rooftop house.’ Rooftop houses have been romanticized in Korean media, making them seem attractive due to their access to a private, outside environment. Tasks such as laundry, gardening, barbecuing, and entertaining guests can be accomplished here.
Originally, rooftop rooms were constructed for storage and were not intended for residential purposes. These rooftop spaces were later remodeled and constructed for housing. Though these rooftop houses offer great
Housing Typologies Public Housing, Co-Living
Public housing was introduced to South Korea in 1989. Public housing is stateowned, affordable rental homes or apartments for low-income families. The first public housing projects were managed by Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation.
In Seoul, public housing was built on city government-owned properties, however, by the late 1990’s this was no longer possible as the city ran out of empty space for new housing as well as funding to carryout building construction. The city turned to the private sector to secure public housing.
It is estimated that around 50% of seoulites own their homes. At the end of 2012, public housing accounted for 5% of South Korean households. This number is considered too little by citizens since 15% of South Koreans live below the poverty line.
Public Housing Shortage
Col-living is a growing trend in South Korea. One type of co-living housing is goshiwon. ‘Goshiwon/고시원’ are minuscule, dormitory style housing units which typically measure 54 ft². Goshiwon first appeared in the 1970’s as an affordable and temporary housing option for students studying for exams, so they are often found near universities.
Goshiwon Concentration
In 2017, there were an estimated 5,940 goshiwons just in Seoul, making up roughly 80% of South Korea’s total goshiwon and this number continues to grow. Goshiwon may be cramped, but they are extremely cheap, drawing in students and low-income workers who can not afford high property prices. In 2019, the youth unemployment rate rose to 10.4%. It was reported that 62% of people living in gosiwon were unemployed.
In 2018, the city government stated that it would supply 300,000 public homes starting in 2021 in an effort to stabilize the real estate market. These will be either new residential sites or redeveloped neighborhoods around the different districts of Seoul. The public housing consists of small-sized studios, usually targeting a demographic of young singles entering the work force and newly wed couples.
Currently, around 80% of single person households among the younger generation (20-34 year old) are living in rental studios ranging from 100 ft² to 120 ft² in size. The rental cost for public housing in Seoul is only 60-80% of the rental rate for housing of the same size in surrounding areas.
Goshiwon Unit
Tenants of goshiwon have access to shared bathrooms and kitchens, typically located on each floor. The closet-sized rooms are furnished, usually offering a small desk and chair, a bed, a TV, a micro-fridge, and internet connection. Some goshiwon rooms have windows that don’t open up to the outside, but instead, open up into the corridor, causing issues with ventilation.
