From duplex homes for an elderly mother and her adult son to small units for single residents, residents in Jongam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, are creating their own apartment brand and building homes that suit their lifestyles. This initiative is part of the 'Commons Jongam' horizontal housing redevelopment project.
On October 1, during a meeting at the project office located at the foot of Gaewoon Mountain, Lee Won-hyung, the project leader, stated, "We designed the homes with each household in mind, considering their lifestyles."
Commons Jongam will consist of 130 units across three underground levels and up to 20 floors above ground, located in the area of Jongam-dong 81-188. This site, previously home to aging single-family houses, broke ground in September 2022 and aims for completion by June 2028, with Bomi Construction handling the construction.
Duplex Homes for Families: 11 Designs for Varied Lifestyles
The design of Commons Jongam began by examining the lives of existing members. The project leader, leveraging his background in architecture and experience in design firms, emphasized that they considered each household's unique lifestyle in their designs.
He created detailed profiles of potential residents, asking questions about family dynamics, daily activities, and future living arrangements. This led to a variety of housing options, including duplex homes that allow an elderly mother and her adult son to maintain privacy while living together, small units for young singles, and larger homes for three generations.
Unlike large apartment complexes that often repeat certain layouts for efficiency, Commons Jongam introduces 11 different housing types within its 130-unit framework. The project leader referred to this approach as 'diverse small-scale production.'
A notable example is the duplex home designed for the elderly mother and her son. He explained, "Even though they live together, we designed it so they can maintain their privacy, with a separate entrance on the upper floor to distinguish their living spaces while still allowing them to spend time together when needed."
This duplex design can also accommodate other family structures. For instance, a remote worker can use one floor as an office, while families with students can separate study areas from living spaces, reducing noise disturbances.
Additionally, these duplex homes are arranged in a standalone format on the outskirts of the apartment complex, allowing direct access to individual entrances from outdoor walkways without the need for a shared lobby or elevator. This design considers the lifestyles of older residents who have lived in single-family homes for many years.
The project leader noted that the floor plans designed for specific members could also meet the needs of others. He mentioned, "At a recent expo where we showcased the housing types of Commons Jongam, visitors expressed interest in the unique structures that are not typically found in existing apartments. I had imagined some of these designs, and it turns out that ordinary people also aspire to such lifestyles," he added. This reflects how individual lifestyles can broaden the options available to a diverse range of potential residents.
Moreover, Commons Jongam is designed to encourage natural interactions among neighbors. Plans include a playground, shared kitchen, communal dining area, a local daycare, shared office space, and community gardens. The proximity of the playground and shared kitchen is intended to foster organic interactions among residents as children play and caregivers gather.
Shin Gi-soo, the public relations officer for Commons Jongam, remarked, "Although apartments are communal living spaces, they often become isolated private areas. We aimed to preserve a sense of community." He emphasized that these facilities are not merely conveniences to enhance the marketability of the apartments but are essential spaces for residents to coexist in a communal setting. He further explained, "While existing apartments may have community facilities, Commons Jongam differentiates itself by considering spaces where residents can encounter each other in their daily lives from the design stage."
Passive Architecture and Wooden Apartments: Focusing on Longevity Over Initial Costs
Commons Jongam incorporates passive building technologies into its design and is pioneering the construction of wooden apartments in South Korea. The goal is to reduce long-term housing costs by enhancing insulation, airtightness, and ventilation performance through passive building techniques.
External insulation is applied to the building's structure to minimize heat loss. This is complemented by airtight construction and ventilation systems to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling while ensuring a comfortable indoor environment.
The project leader explained, "We will apply passive building methods, traditionally used in rural homes, to apartments by integrating various architectural technologies such as windows and ventilation systems." Some homes will also utilize wood as a structural material. The project team is currently testing prototypes to assess fire resistance and sound insulation performance before actual construction begins.
The process of implementing these new building methods has not been without challenges. The project leader noted, "We faced difficulties in finding designers and contractors capable of handling the diverse layouts and specialized designs, and the complex construction processes and cost burdens posed additional challenges." Nevertheless, he stated, "Considering that this is a home where residents will live for a lifetime, we made this decision with an eye on not just initial construction costs but also the heating, cooling, and maintenance expenses that residents will bear for decades to come."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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