In the bustling city of Mungyeong, South Korea, where tradition meets modernity, Todot Architects and Partners have crafted a masterpiece that pays homage to ancient wisdom while embracing contemporary design principles. The Round Roofs Residence is a testament to the fusion of tradition and innovation, drawing inspiration from the old adage, "The sky is round, and the ground is angular," in the Chinese astronomic book Zhou Bi Suan Jing.
Ancient Far East Asians recognized the harmony between the csky's curves and the earth's angularity reflected in traditional Korean buildings' distinctively curved roof lines. Rather than merely replicating these forms, Todot Architects took a philosophical approach to design, seeking to capture the essence of this ancient wisdom in a modern context.
(Photo: Jinbo Choi)
Addressing the Unique Site Challenges
The site of the Round Roofs Residence presented a unique challenge, with its triangular shape intersecting a busy road near the Mungyeong City Hall and Mojeon Park. Despite its prime location, the site had long been neglected, resembling a forgotten traffic island. Nevertheless, being innovative, the architects tried to find the optimal solution, aiming to complement the existing urban plan.
This project requires the Todot Architect to address the client's request to design a mixed-use development with retail shops and multi-family housing. As part of these efforts, they aim to create an attractive and safe environment for locals and deliver the most value for the area within available space. Placing retail spaces on the ground floor, they arranged the building masses staggered to create vault-like interstitial spaces, inviting pedestrians to explore the arcade and discover the hidden shops within.
Central to the design concept are the round roofs, which serve not only as a nod to tradition but also as a source of inspiration and comfort for residents. The architects opted for distorting familiar forms rather than imposing strong and unfamiliar shapes, allowing the round roofs to imbue the space with a unique energy and ambiance. Inside, the seamless connection between vertical walls and roof lines creates a sense of continuity, while recessed windows accentuate the curvature of the arches.
Todot Architects employed innovative construction techniques to realize these distinctive round roofs, combining engineered wood structures with traditional masonry principles. The result is a series of smooth arches supported by a combination of 2x8s, 2x10s, and OSB boards, creating roofs and walls simultaneously. Semi-circular windows facing the sky further connect residents to their environment, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside.
(Photo: Jinbo Choi)
Encouraging Exploration and Discovery
Despite its unified appearance from the exterior, the Round Roofs Residence reveals a series of individual entities within, with each room feeling like a long tunnel waiting to be explored. It is this sense of discovery and surprise that Todot Architects hopes will provide residents with exceptional experiences and serve as a catalyst for revitalizing the surrounding area.
In conclusion, it can be seen that the Soot Roofs Residence, designed by Todot Architects and Partners, has demonstrated the artistic use of the merge of tradition with novelty. Through biennial acceptance of the ancient wisdom and synergy of modern design principles, the architects have built a space that not just preserves the old idea but also impels new thoughts. While Mungyeong experiences changes, this historical structure remains a testament to the notion that integrating the old with the new is simply the city's characteristic.