In Tune with Nature
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- [ Kim Dae-gyun, architect ]
- How can we get some idea of the view of nature embodied by our houses? Hanok contains our thoughts on nature in our building methods, ways of living, consideration of the prevalent climate, and philosophy about nature. The hanok has become environmentally-friendly as a result of our ancestors’ consideration of the natural environment in their everyday lives. It is not so persuasive to say that a hanok is a nice form of residence just because it is built of earth and wood, and consideration is given to diverse factors including wind, sun, terrain and landscape.
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Dongnakdang is a good example of the way in which our ancestors’ everyday attitude toward nature can be embodied in a hanok. This house, built for Yi Eon-jeok (pen-name: Hoejae) in his hometown of Angang, Gyeongju in 1516 during the Joseon period, is located in the middle of a long valley. He named the nearby mountain peaks Dodeoksan, Muhaksan, Hwagaesan and Jaoksan, as well as the nearby valley and rocks such as Gwaneodae, Yeonggwidae, Takyeongdae, Jingsimdae and Sesimdae. He also gave the name ’Jagye’ to the valley formed by the four mountain peaks and the five valleys and rocks. In contrast to a method of landscaping surroundings artificially after building a house, he settled on the location of his house in consideration of the surrounding landscape, doing as little artificial landscaping as possible.
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At the end of a path separating two sections of the house, water flows down through the ‘Jagye’, making the valley part of the house.
There is a wall between the house and the valley. The wall has a latticed window, through which someone inside the house can admire the valley.
A house is a mirror of its owner’s life. One is likely to readjust one’s way of life by considering what is reflected in the mirror. We find our ancestors’ everyday attitude toward nature contained in their hanok. It is important to try to find values in them and try to associate them with our current lives. This is why we refer back to the hanok built many years ago.
- Curriculum vitae [ Kim Dae-gyun ]
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- Architect
- Part-time professor at Ewha Womans University, Department of Interior Design
- Representative of OFFICE AT
