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JiYuWon_DJI_0235-HDR_00 (Custom)

JiYuWon Cultural Space

Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea | 2022
[ XII Magazine | SPACE magazine ]

Even as Korea’s diverse landscapes provide a unique cultural and historical context, critical explorations of the junction between architecture and topography remain relatively sparse. Located at the vital watershed where two branches of the Hanggang River and the Kyeong-an stream converge, this cultural building for the appreciation of art and music transforms a steep slope between mountain and water into spatial and ecological flows. Though the allowable footprint was only 200m2 due to its adjacency to nature reserves, the building utilizes half-levels, closely matched with the existing topography, to expand visitors’ experience and to minimize disturbance to the sensitive site. Exterior paths are brought into the building at one level and exit out another while at each turn, vistas extend to the stunning waterways and mountain ranges beyond. As an allegory of how the building form was generated to minimize disturbance to the site, its stone cladding is cut into thin corners to reference the topographic lines of the original landscape survey. The multi-level roof is also considered a fragment of both the cultural landscape and the art-related programs with large stepped areas for gathering. The central sunken courtyard distills the complex building section into a series of Piranesian steps and bridges.

The project’s name, ‘JiYuWon’ can be translated as ‘the flow of ground.’ Since the site’s surrounding waterways play a vital role in the ecological health of the Hanggang (and therefore to the entire Seoul region), the project’s topographic approach is a critique of the majority of buildings in the area that fail to safeguard the waterway. Landscape buffer-zones filter polluted run-off from the adjacent highway before it reaches the adjacent streams. The minimal building footprint in conjunction with its stepped form captures rainwater and releases it slowly into the adjacent absorptive gardens instead of into the natural streams.

JiYuWon_DJI_0310-HDR_00 (Crop)
JiYuWon_DJI_0173-HDR_00 (Custom)
JiYuWon 2-1_배치_250_00 (Custom)
TOPOGRAPHIC ARCHITECTURE
The building and the topography are merged into a continuous spatial condition
JiYuWon_DJI_0986-HDR_00 (Custom)
JiYuWon_DJI_0460-HDR_00 (CROP)
BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND WATER
Nestled at the junction between water and mountain the buildings frames views to both
JiYuWon_process
The building is generated from existing topographic lines minimizing site disturbance while maximizing spatial layering
JiYuWon_DJI_0262-HDR_00 (Custom)
plan 2_JiYuWon (Custom)
JiYuWon_DJI_0103-HDR_00 (Custom)
VIEW FROM WEST
A view through the  split level building from the entry
existing and new topography_JiYuWon (Custom)
contour diagram_YH-00-crop (Custom)
JiYuWon_DJI_0145-HDR_00 (Custom)
MASTERPLAN
Buildings are conceived as part of the topography
JiYuWon_3S7A0847-HDR_00 (Custom)
Devious Topographies_photo by Shinwoo Park (Custom)
TOPOGRAPHIC CONNECTIONS
Interior floor levels and terraces are closely matched to the existing topography to blend landscape and architecture
JiYuWon_3S7A0697-HDR_00 (Custom)
View of lower main gallery
JiYuWon_3S7A0883-HDR_00 (Custom)
Courtyard sculpture gallery
JiYuWon_3S7A0787-HDR_00 (Custom)
section WE_JiYuWon (Custom)
section WE-2_JiYuWon (Custom)
2-6_단3_120_00 (Custom)
SECTIONS
Upper and lower level galleries follow the level of the topography and open to different environments
JiYuWon_3S7A0748-HDR_00 (Custom)
MAIN GALLERY
The multi-functional space opens to the water beyond while the adjacent courtyard provides an enclosed, private experience
cultural programming_JiYuWon (Custom)
JiYuWon_DJI_0248-HDR_00 (Custom)
JiYuWon_3S7A0715-HDR_00 (Custom)
JiYuWon_DJI_0986-HDR_00 (Custom)
2-7_입면도_200_00 (Custom)
JiYuWon_3S7A0715-HDR_00 (Custom)
JiYuWon-brochure-0016 (Custom)
TOPOGRAPHIC SEQUENCE
The experience of the building constantly moves from outside to inside and back again
JiYuWon_3S7A1224-HDR_00 (Custom)
ROOF TERRACES
The roof is considered part of the overall topography of the site: 
terraces and wide stairs can be used for a variety of gatherings and cultural events
JiYuWon-brochure-0018 (Custom)
GUESTHOUSE
The guesthouse can be a temporary artist-in-residence suite or can double as a gallery: perforations allow a variety of views including from the bathing area
JiYuWon_DJI_0882-HDR_00 (Custom)
POROSITY
Views, light, and air porously pass through the building: In upcoming seasons, the front open space will be developed into a sustainable ‘smart-farm’ as a new precedent for the region
JiYuWon_DJI_0270-HDR_00 (Custom)

Architect
John Hong AIA, LEED AP (principal in charge) + Eunseop Suh (team leader)
Hoseung Lee, Yeongshin Sim, Jeongsoo Lee, Yoonhwi Lee (design team)

Architect of Record
Kwangyup Jang, Dyne Architects and Planners

Contractor
Dami Construction

Photography
P:A

Project Info
Location: Gwangju-si, Gyeongi-do
Program: Gallery and performance space

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Seoul National University
Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering
Building 39-503
1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu
Seoul, Korea 08826

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