Hanok: Where Today Lives

Onjium Housing Studio

Onjium is a research and educational institute dedicated to Korean traditional culture.
Founded to inherit the values and spirit embedded in tradition, the institute works to reinterpret these principles for contemporary life while contributing to a meaningful cultural legacy for the future. Through its three studios - Food, Clothing, and Housing - Onjium cultivates professional artisans whose practice integrates research, craftsmanship, and present-day living.

Onjium Housing Studio is the collective author of Hanok: Where Today Lives. Led by hanok architect and architectural scholar Bong Ryol Kim, the Studio brings together researchers and creative practitioners engaged in the study of Korean architecture and living culture.

Beyond the preservation of traditional hanok as architectural form, the Studio explores the philosophical foundations and practical wisdom embedded in historic ways of dwelling. Its work considers how these principles can continue within the realities of contemporary residential life.

In collaboration with hanok artisans, contemporary architects, and specialists across disciplines, the Studio develops approaches to spatial design that allow tradition to remain relevant and adaptive in the present.


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I have always pondered the question: What defines hanok, and how far can the term be stretched? There is no absolute or fixed answer. Yet, new attempts have led to new discoveries. Hanok has become more convenient and aesthetically refined, but this is still just the beginning. Onjium Housing Studio will continue to explore new ideas and build upon its achievements. Even materials and construction methods once considered fundamental, such as wooden structures and tiled roofs, may eventually fade.

Nevertheless, the universal values and core principles embedded in hanok will deepen and endure as the essence of Onjium. Hanok will continue to evolve into modern architecture-one that remains rich in spirit.
- An excerpt from the Preface, "Hanok, Timeless and Contemporary Architecture"

The idea of what constitutes good land and good scenery shows little difference between East and West. For example, in the mountainous Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, the criteria hunters used to select sites for their dwellings ultimately align closely with our principles of pungsu. They sought places that faced good mountains, offered sheltered topography to block the wind, and provided easy access to water. All of this stems from practical wisdom accumulated through life experience. ... There is no such thing as bad land. Even if one were to encounter such land, it is the architect's responsibility to find solutions
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- An excerpt from "The Site: Awakening to the Land"

To install a cornerstone, you first need to dig a large hole and create a proper foundation. Even the cornerstone itself will gradually sink into the ground over time. This is one of the greatest structural challenges in hanok architecture. If all the pillars were to sink evenly, the house would remain stable-but that's rarely the case, because ground conditions such as soil composition and geology vary from place to place. To maintain the integrity of the structure, it's not enough to simply rely on the pillar itself; the connecting structural framework must be stable as well. Without the development of a robust wooden framework, cornerstones would not have been possible in the first place. ... The emergence of the cornerstone represents a critical moment in the history of architecture, a breakthrough where humanity first challenged gravity and achieved remarkable progress. Even today, we use the term "cornerstone" to describe the beginning and significance of an undertaking. The shape or pattern of a cornerstone is merely decorative; the true essence lies in its functionality.
- An excerpt from "The Floor: To Step Upon and Rise"

Hanok has undergone modernization in many aspects. For walls, materials like glass are now commonly used, greatly diversifying material options. But roofs have not followed the same trajectory. Think about it: if a hanok roof were to discard its giwa tiles, could it still be called a hanok? Could we propose a hanok without roof tiles?... Historically, tile-roofed houses emerged from the functional necessities of their era, but today, the conditions are entirely different. Yet despite these vastly liberated circumstances, we find ourselves confronted with the most difficult question: the question of hanok identity. The problem is not technical feasibility-it's that structures without tiles are not readily accepted by the public as authentic hanok. It is less an issue of aesthetics and more a matter of cultural imagery. Can something still be recognized as "hanok" without the "soaring eaves line of a tiled roof"?... this presents a particularly difficult challenge for us because, as I mentioned, the issue lies not with the material itself but with public perception. It's an area we continue to explore deeply.
- An excerpt from "Roof: Shielding from the Sun"

The first challenge in addressing hanok's shortcomings-issues of cold, security, and soundproofing-was to develop windows that maintain the aesthetics of traditional design while significantly improving functionality and convenience. This has been an area of diverse experimentation since Onjium Housing Studio began designing. Doors fitted with traditional hanji paper, which required regular replacement, needed alternatives that could meet today's preferences for design, convenience, and durability.... We then partnered with a Korean company specializing in system windows to develop windows that fit modern hanok, which are now readily available on the market. ... If there are aspects where traditional hanok do not satisfy user needs, we actively accommodate those needs-not just with windows but across all areas-while preserving hanok's integrity, researching and developing solutions to fulfill them. Through this process, I believe today's hanok continues to evolve.
- An excerpt from "Doors: Boundaries of Communication"

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Foreword
Hanok, the Traditional House of Today | Yun Gyun S. Hong

Preface
Hanok, Timeless and Contemporary Architecture | Bong Ryol Kim

Introduction
Toward a Living Hanok of Today

Gyeongju Villa
A House to Embrace the Landscape

Dongrakdang
A Modern Hanok That Defies Conventions for New Possibilities

Hwadongjae
A House of Refined Simplicity and Understated Elegance

Building a House in Words ① The Site: Awakening to the Land

Bangye Yun Ungnyeol's Villa
A Century-old Hanok Reimagined for Today

Hong Jai Cho's Birthplace
The Beauty of a Simplicity and Practicality

Building a House in Words ② The Floor: To Step Upon and Rise

Arumjigi Building Hanok
A Hanok for the "Here and Now"

Hyundai Heavy Industries VIP Guest House
The Elegance of Modern Hanok

Building a House in Words ③ The Roof: Shielding from the Sun

Donuimun Museum Village Hanok Youth Hostel
Exploring the Potential of Modern Collective Architecture

Bihaedang at the Korean Royal Court Flower Museum
Hanok, Connected and Expanded

The Korean Heritage Room at University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning
A "House Within a House" Inspired by Myeongnyundang of Sungkyunkwan

Building a House in Words ④ Doors: Boundaries of Communication

Won Buddhism Wonnam Temple - Donor Memorial Hall, Inhyewon
A Hanok Enriched with Function, Modest Yet Complete

Jangwonjaesa
Interpreting Tradition, Embracing Modernity

Mujungwon
A Space Bridging Life and Death

Building a House in Words ⑤ A Conversation on Today's Hanok

Appendix
Technologies Behind
Onjium Housing Studio's Hanok Buildings

Index
Materials Used in Onjium
Housing Studio's Hanok Buildings
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