Hanok
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- [Written by Kim Jang-gwon (representative of Bukchon HRC)]
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Hanok or Korean traditional houses have long been built on the soil of Korean peninsula. A hanok has a framework involving a stylobate (a level higher than the foundation of the structure) at the bottom, and the placement of wooden pillars, beams, rafters and titles at the top.
Why are people talking about the past hanok again today? This is because hanok have many advantages. First, hanok are beautiful. That beauty is natural. Hanok are not to be filled with many things, but to remain as less occupied as possible.
The garden is filled with light. Breezes would add to its coziness. The sky above the garden is wide open. A patch of cloud and a bird in the air would suffice. As such, hanok look to harmonize with the natural surroundings.
Also, hanok are scientific. The stylobate protects wooden structures from insects and humidity. The length of the eves varies from one region to another - northern, middle and southern regions. Due to a difference in the meridian altitude of the winter solstice and the summer solstice, the varying lengths of the eves are intended to screen or allow in the light.
- A hanok consists of the floor space and the room area. Rooms have ondol or a heating system. Ondol is to heat the floor of a room by heating its underneath with firewood, etc. The ondol floor is to heat the room in winter, and to avoid moisture and heat in summer.
Also, hanok are made using only natural materials, such as earth, stone, and wood. They can thus remain eco-friendly and recyclable. No non-disposable wastes come from hanok.
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Another strength of hanok is to “contain light.” Indoors, windows and doors covered with Korean paper serve as an indirect lighting, which creates diverse colors and beauty. Hot air comes from the front garden, and cool air flows in from the backyard. Hanok have good ventilation.
The real strength of hanok lies in its comfort and convenience for its dwellers. For instance, the ondol floor used to be used as a heater of bowls of steamed rice by covering them with blankets and placing them on the floor. Hanok seeks minimalism by removing excessive decorations. As such, hanok make one feel humble and modest. Hanok connects natural spaces to human spaces.
- Curriculum vitae [ Kim Jang-gwon ]
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- Representative, Bukchon HRC
- Architect specializing in hanok
- Has built 160-plus hanok houses chiefly in Bukchon, Seoul.
