Honsinzi House / SPLK Architects & Partners

Curated by ArchDaily

Architects: SPLK Architects & Partners
Area: 198 m²
Year: 2014
Photographs: Helene Binet
Construction: FILOBE, TL Homes

Text description provided by the architects. The Honsinzi house ('Honsinzi' is the name of a lotus pond) is a holiday home in Cheongdo-gun, in the southern region of Korea. The place is of profound tranquility where the rich natural scenery reflects in the stilled mirror of the Honsinzi. The requirement was to create a 198 square - meters home to share with family and friends for relaxation, spa and other special events.

We have erected two parallel volumes in the heart of the site open to the landscape. The disposition of the two volumes is defined in terms of the views and functions. The front volume is for the public area, containing the living space, dining space and an inner yard opened to the sky. The second volume, more private, has a guest room and two bathrooms on the ground floor, and, a bedroom with a large bath on the upper level.

The architecture, and the four surrounding walls, three of which are headed up by blue stones - locally available and sourced material ensuring a visual coherence within the landscape - and the other made of low iron glasses, create four areas, each with its own form and function.

Through the transparent walls, the southern area connects the living space to the landscape without any barriers. In the eastern area, there is an entrance that leads throughout the whole site. The western area shelters diverse facilities for living - gas, electricity, water, etc. As the calmest space, the northern court is for the contemplation of the dwellers in a enclosed atmosphere. All these compositions allow varied views into and through the house, enhancing the experiences of the spatial depth while mediating between enclosure and exposure

As the procedures of disposition, the interior spaces are also calibrated to keep a visual spatial expansion. The varied height of the living space, its wooden surfaces, and the white marble on floor have been designed to keep the spatial continuity. The master bedroom and bathroom of the upper level are very important spaces for relaxation, designed by simple geometry using the white materials and wide opening.

Honsinzi House / SPLK Architects & Partners - Windows, Brick, Stairs, Facade, Deck, Handrail — © Helene Binet

The inner yard bears distinct qualities and purposes within the environment. When opened, the rotating wall, perpendicular to the surrounding wall plane, provides a magnificent scenery and direct access to the southern court. When closed, it defines the volume enclosed and extends the space retaining the continuity of the surface as much as possible

To be a radical passive construction, this house of simple structure and high insulation utilizes a number of sustainable measures and was largely completed by a local firm and craftsmen. It has the hybrid skeletal frame of reinforced concrete, wooden beams and studs, filled with glass wool insulation. And we also put the EPS wall panels outside and inside of this skeleton. The facade is clad with the cement boards (1800x400, 10T) and black stones (1200x600, 20T) while the interior surfaces are made of white oak lumber standings with a height of 400mm. The aluminum profile enforces the sense of architectural unity between the interior and exterior sides of the home. The envelope of this super insulated house is detailed to reduce thermal bridging, and the use of high efficiency system window ensures a comfortable living climate.