‘s_mahal’ by moon hoon, daesim-ri, yangpyeong, korea image © kim yong kwan all images courtesy of moon hoon

within a landscape of merging water, rice fields and a forest in daesim-ri, yangpyeong, korea is ‘s_mahal’, a single family dwelling by korean practice moon hoon. a circular balcony wraps the perimeter of the residence creating a continuous outdoor corridor for the inhabitant’s dogs and cats to roam freely which may be enclosed with a ephemeral red and white sheer curtain. a breezy day billows the waterproof fabric, allowing the home to come alive. the soft walls respond to the presence of transient visitors while offering a bold solution which maintains a limited budget.

soaring above seven inner courts is a ‘ssalon de sson’, a prayer room which floats above the residence’s courtyard, serving also as an observation space of the natural surroundings. each room may directly access a personal court, along with a grand central area which doubles as a madang to raise animals.

moon hoon: s_mahal residence at night image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal prayer room and courtyard at night image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal aerial view of residence and courtyard image © park chan woo

moon hoon: s_mahal prayer room and courtyard at night image © park chan woo

moon hoon: s_mahal open courtyard at dusk image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal prayer room image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal aerial view of residence image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal residence without perimeter veranda curtains image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal perimeter veranda of residence image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal perimeter veranda with curtain drawn closed image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal perimeter outdoor corridor with curtain drawn closed image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal main entrance image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal entry image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal entry image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal courtyard image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal kitchen image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal living space image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal view of courtyard from corridor image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal rising above the landscape

image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal rising above the rice fields and forest

image © kim yong kwan

moon hoon: s_mahal model

moon hoon: s_mahal model

moon hoon: s_mahal floor plan / level 0 1. living room 2. kitchen / dining 3. entry hall 4. bedroom 5. study 6. master bedroom 7. entertainment garden 8. entry garden 9. animal garden 10. central garden 11. cooking garden 12. ambulatory + playtrack 13. laundry 14. pool 15. corridor 16. boiler 17. gravel ambulatory 18. various garden functions

moon hoon: s_mahal floor plan / level 1 1. ssalon de sson 2. gravel roof garden

moon hoon: s_mahal section 1. ssalon de sson 2. stair 3. laundry 4. corridor 5.bathroom 6. ambularoty + playtrack 7. entertainment garden 8. central garden 9. light well 10. pool

moon hoon: s_mahal section 1. ssalon de sson 2. living room 3. entertainment garden 4. ambulatory + playtrack

moon hoon: s_mahal stylistic renderings of the residence (clockwise from left to right) s_mahal in korea, s_mahal uprooting itself from korea, s_mahal flying above the ocean

moon hoon: s_mahal stylistic renderings of the residence (clockwise from left to right) s_mahal flying above the ocean, soaring above the taj mahal, landing upon a plinth of earth, taking root into its new resting place in india

moon hoon: s_mahal diagram of interior spaces

moon hoon: s_mahal diagram of interior spaces

moon hoon: s_mahal sketches

moon hoon: s_mahal sketch

moon hoon: s_mahal sketch

project info:

architect: moon hoon design team: kim suki, lee kyong ho, kam dong ho, park jung mok client: son dae ho completion date: march 2007 location: 109-2 daesim_ri, yangseo-myeon, yangpyeong-gun, gyeonggi-do, korea total site area: 741.00m2 total floor area: 147.12m2 construction: reinforced concrete exterior material: sprayed paint, waterproof curtain interior material: wood flooring, wall paper