A Complex | LESS Architects

The site is located on the boundary of Seorae Village, which is highly regarded as a livable neighborhood, despite being developed autonomously with a large-scale apartment complex and small-scale buildings in Banpo.

To break away from the monotonous urban environment that is repetitively characterized by horizontal and vertical lines of high-density apartment complexes and low-density individual buildings, the architects aimed to introduce a new facade design to residential buildings with a simple and clear logic, by transforming the boring depth of the front face and the uniform vertical and horizontal movement of the apartment design into a soft curve of the arch and a layered arch frame.

The new facade design is achieved by modularized arch units and straight members, combined with repetition and rotation. The front facade of the building, facing north, functions as a louver that adjusts the internal environment of the residence horizontally and vertically, while the side walls transform into a single-layered frame and connect with each other. On the south side, the facade disappears to allow for openness and natural light, integrating the entire building facade into one unified system.

Starting from the ground, the double arch frame eliminates the boundary between the lower-level commercial space and residential areas, revealing the whole building as a unified design. This design approach breaks the boundary between different building types, creating a harmonious and dynamic environment.