2005-2162

Jo went on to say that a hanok’s yard
is not something that people just look at
and enjoy visually. It is something that
people use, where people feel the seasons
change.
“Getting a yard is like getting a piece
of nature in a huge room,” Jo says.
One of Jo’s most high-profile projects
was the multiple award-winning La
Gung hotel. La Gung opened in 2007
and enjoyed intense media coverage, as
it was the first high-end, luxury hanok
hotel to open in Korea.
“Often La Gung is fully booked over
the weekend,” said Min Dae-sik at the
Shilla Millennium Park, the film setcum-theme
park that houses the hotel.
“Part of the reason is because it only has
16 villas, but we believe it’s also an indication
that people are responding positively
to hanok structures.”
Jo admits he wasn’t certain La Gung
would succeed when he was first given
the job. After all, it was an unprecedented
project.
“My biggest concern when designing
La Gung was how many traditional
elements I would use and how much I
would adopt modern functions.”
In its completed form, La Gung
embodies the qualities that set Jo apart
from other hanok-savvy architects: It
retains its traditional form and atmosphere
with modern functions and facilities.
Each villa at the hotel has two to
three rooms, a private yard, as well as a
private, open-air hot bath.
After La Gung, Jo worked on another
hanok hotel, a hanok library and a
hanok art gallery. But the architect says
he is most inspired by residential hanok,
and names a hanok in Gahoe-dong
called Seoneumjae as one of his most
memorable projects.
Built in 1934, the hanok was on the
verge of being demolished, with the
owner, like so many who came before,
tempted by a large offer from a real
estate developer. But Jo heard about
Seoneumjae and its historical value and
convinced the owner to opt for renovation
instead.
“I thought about what the best renovated
hanok I’ve ever worked on was. It
was, in fact, my house. I have lived in a
La Gung, Korea’s first highend
hanok hotel, was also
the work of Jo. La Gung embodies
the qualities that differentiate
Jo from from other
hanok-savvy architects by
retaining its traditional form
with modern twist.
A model of
one hanok Jo
saved from the
wrecking ball
was chosen
for an exhibit
at the Korean
Embassy to
the U.S.
Korean Artist
hanok since 2003, but I didn’t renovate it too much.
That’s when I realized that when it comes to hanok
renovation, less is more.”
Although Jo focused on keeping the original frame
and ambiance of Seoneumjae, he did add elements to
please the owner and make life there more convenient,
like a listening room in the basement. Still, Jo made
sure the building’s 70-year heritage was kept as intact
as possible.
That is perhaps why, along with a model of the
130-year-old hanok residence of Korea’s former president
Yun Po-sun in Insa-dong, central Seoul, a miniature
of Seoneumjae was chosen to be displayed at an
exhibition in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Korean
Embassy.
A graduate in architecture of the prestigious Seoul
National University, Jo opened his first office, Guga
Architects, in 2000. That was also when he initiated
what he calls the “Wednesday survey.” Every Wednesday
he heads out to examine and document buildings,
alleys and other urban structures and elements in and
around the Seodaemun-gu area.
So far he has done more than 460 such surveys and
completed nine detailed scrapbooks. Looking over
them today, one is struck by Jo’s persistence, even stubbornness.
But along the way, Jo said, he has learned
more about life than about architecture.
The 43-year-old says that through the surveys he
has come to a better understanding of the way people
live, and of Seoul as a historic yet constantly changing
city.
“Different people live differently, according to their
walks of life, financial circumstances and whatnot.
Some of the places may look dark, cramped and old,
but still they are a precious backdrop to someone’s life,
just like any other place. A good city is one where different
people can live in harmony.”
By Kim Hyung-eun
December 2009 korea 51
[JonngAng Ilbo]