SPACE
May 2026 (No. 702)
A New Boundary Blocking the External Gaze
The existing house, located in Seoul, offered almost no protection from its surroundings. With only a 1.5m-high fence and direct sightlines from the neighbouring house’s balcony, the living room and master bedroom facing the yard were always kept behind drawn curtains. In addition, the yard remained largely unused for over 35 years. Perhaps because of this, from our very first meeting the client repeatedly emphasised their desire for a bright and open home, free from the sense of confinement. What seemed necessary was to introduce a new kind of boundary for both the client and the neighbours—one that would no longer be overlooked by neighbours while still allowing extended views outward from within.
Prior to construction, with the client’s cooperation, we studied the exact positions of windows overlooking the site from the neighbouring homes. The design of any large opening within the shell was based on this survey. For example, a beam extending from the wall of the annex was carefully positioned to block views from the balcony of an adjoining house. Its height was carefully calibrated so that the balcony would not be visible from within the house, while also minimising the shadow cast over the yard. This beam also spans across to the western boundary wall. The height of the western wall itself was determined on site just before formwork installation – by walking along the street from various angles and even standing on tiptoe – at 1.7m, a height that prevents direct views into the yard and interior while still maintaining a sense of openness. The beam and wall together form a new type of boundary, one that frees both the client and neighbouring residents from intrusive lines of sight without creating a sense...
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Architect
my archive (Kim Daehyun, Lee Heimin)
Location
Gangdong-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programme
single house
Site area
329m²
Building area
144.45m²
Gross floor area
149.64m²
Building scope
2F
Parking
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