We’ve just received some news from our friends at Steven Holl Architects regarding the progress of their latest private gallery and residence. Situated in the hillside of the Kangbuk section of Seoul, Korea, the project’s geometry is an experimental reaction to a 1967 sketch for a music score by the composer Istvan Anhalt, “Symphony of Modules,” discovered in a book by John Cage titled “Notations”. This strategy, which runs parallel to a research studio on “the architectonics of music,” results in three separate pavilions connected by a sheet of water that establishes the plane of reference from above and below.
More construction photos, renderings and of course, Holl’s infamous watercolors after the break.
Arriving through bamboo formed garden wall at the entry court, a visitor continues through the front door and ascends a low stairs. At this point, the viewer is eye level with the central pond, causing the three pavilions to appear as though floating on their own reflections.
Once inside the pavilions, slivers of light burst through 55 skylight strips on the roofs, creating dynamic illumination patterns on the interior. This offers the “idea of space as silent until activated by light.” Light bends around the inner spaces by way of 5 strips of clear glass positioned to make the light turn.
The interiors of the pavilions are red and charcoal stained bamboo with the skylights cutting through a red bamboo ceiling. Exteriors are a rain skin of specially treated brass which ages naturally within the landscape.
A reflection pool, framed by gardens, runs perpendicular to the skylight strips. The strips of glass lenses bring dappled light to the white plaster walls and white granite floor of the gallery below.
The placement of the pavilions activate different levels of the ground plane with light playing the crucial role of both distinguishing different moments and uniting the separate entities and interstitial spaces.
We’ll keep you updated as construction moves along.
Daeyang Gallery and House
Seoul, Korea
2008 – 2011
CREDIT SHEET
client: Daeyang Shipping Co. Ltd.
Architect: Steven Holl Architects, Steven Holl (design architect), JongSeo Lee (associate in charge), Annette Goderbauer, Chris McVoy (project advisor), Francesco Bartolozzi, Marcus Carter, Nick Gelpi, Fiorenza, Matteoni, Rashid Satti, Dimitra Tsachrelia (project team)
local architect: E.rae Architects
structural engineer: SQ Engineering
mechanical engineer: Buksung HVAC+R Engineering
lighting consultant: L’Observatoire International
general contractor: Jehyo
FACT SHEET:
construction period January 2010
program residential and art gallery
project type direct commission
structural system RC structural wall and steel
major materials exposed concrete and copper panel
site area 5774f/1760m
floor area (square) 10699sf/994sm
