Finding Home in a Hanok 한옥
Traditional Korean architecture was one of the first elements that caught my eye when I began studying the country. Not only did the lines and design create a simplistic harmony, but upon further investigation, I found that these structures were eco-friendly (an exciting discovery for a student studying at an environmental college). Rather than stand out from its surroundings, a hanok (한옥), or traditional Korean home, is meant to coexist with the landscape it is apart of. The structure itself is built using only natural materials such as wood, stone and clay, all of which could return to the earth if the hanok (한옥) was torn down.
Special consideration towards energy conservation was also included within the design. The roofs are angled to minimize sunlight entry in the summer and maximize it in the winter. The walls within the house can also be raised and rearranged to create different sized spaces and the outer walls can be elevated. All of these features have significant benefits towards heating and cooling the hanok (한옥), utilizing passive techniques and lowering the need for fuel consumption.
A traditional hanok (한옥) also employed the use of hanji (한지), Korean paper made from mulberry trees. Hanji (한지) was placed on just about every flat surface within the structure but its most notable function was on the doors. It acts as a fantastic insulator and is also transparent enough to allow sunlight to pass through. Unlike glass, hanji (한지) also has the ability to ventilate the home and adjust humidity levels by absorbing the moisture in the air.
The appearance of a hanok (한옥) can range widely from a large building with a tile roof to a small, thatch-roofed hut. Their similarities lie within their underfloor heating systems and wide wooden floors as well as their incorporation of the natural world.
Ondol 온돌 and Maru 마루
During the twentieth century, there was a large push towards Western customs in Korea, leading to the adoption of fast food and apartment buildings among other things. Aspects of traditional culture have persisted and been modernized through these changes. Ondol (온돌), is one of these long-established innovations that is still being used in both the hanok (한옥) and westernized homes. An efficient system of heating that is entirely unique to Korea, it traditionally utilized a furnace and a stone substructure that ran under the floor. The process began in a fireplace located in the kitchen outside of the room. The hot smoke generated then traveled through a channel below the floor, where the heat was absorbed by stone slabs and the smoke was released through a chimney on the other side. The system was designed to warm every part of the floor evenly, with thicker stone slabs located closest to the heat source. The stones themselves could hold heat for a long period of time, making ondol (온돌) a very efficient system. Modern day systems function similarly, utilizing a water heater instead of fire and coils instead of flues.
Similar heating systems can be found in Northeastern China and Mongolia, but these are used to heat parts of a room rather than its entirety. Ondol (온돌) has been apart of Korean architecture since the 2nd century, and originally the design was limited to partial space heating. During the Goryeo Dynasty, the system was redesigned and used to heat an entire room, and it later gained wide-scale usage during the Joseon Dynasty. This long history has been integral in shaping Korean culture and lifestyle. The custom of removing your shoes in living spaces and some restaurants developed from the idea of ‘living close to the floor’ — the warmth makes it an inviting place to eat, sleep and gather.
With a climate that experiences both cold winters and hot summers, the ondol (온돌) floor is not used throughout the hanok (한옥). Maru (마루) is the wooden flooring that was developed for comfortable living during the warmest months. Closed rooms, such as bedrooms, used ondol (온돌), while maru (마루) was used in the main hall and rooms with access to the outside, often extending to form a veranda. Together they create a coexistence between a system reliant on fire for heating and floors made of wood for cooling.
The Beauty of Emptiness
Another element of the traditional Hanok (한옥) that is not seen in western culture is the courtyard. Traditionally, this space was an extension of the interior an acted as its own living space — a room without a roof. It served as a place for meeting guests, relaxation and fun for children. To access the house, one would most always have to travel through the courtyard, as it connected all of the interior living spaces. Traditionally it was left empty, with the thinking that it could then hold all things and the understanding that the natural landscapes surrounding the hanok (한옥) were considered to be its gardens. Modern, urban design has created a new functionality for the courtyard. The front of ready-made houses are now filled with gardens rather than open space, and the rooms surround a main hall that functions similarly to the traditional courtyard.
The hanok (한옥) is a simple, quiet structure that unites the environment and people through the use of natural aesthetics to create our familiar connotation of ‘home’. While Korean architecture has moved towards more modern taste, the hanok (한옥) and traditional design are experiencing a revitalizing interest among the people. If you are planning a trip to South Korea, I suggest visiting Jeonju Hanok Village (전주한옥마을) or Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을) to truly understand the architecture that has embedded itself within Korean lifestyle and culture.
(Note: I do not condone the use of romanization to learn a language and have only included its use above for those who have not yet learned the Korean alphabet)
References
Culture Trip. (2017, April 12). Why the traditional hanok is the forerunner to eco-architecture. Retrieved November 9, 2018, from The Culture Trip website: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/hanok-the-forerunner-to-eco-architecture/
Hanok (traditional Korean house) — a place of subtle beauty and quiet dignity. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2018, from Antique Alive website: http://www.antiquealive.com/Blogs/Hanok_Traditional_Korean_House.html
Lee, S. H. (1991). Continuity and consistency of the traditional courtyard house plan in modern Korean dwellings. Traditional Dwellings and Settlement Review, III(I), 65–76. Retrieved from http://iaste.berkeley.edu/pdfs/03.1f-Fall91Lee-sml.pdf
McCafferty, G. (2017, July 20). South Korean architects look to the past in their push to modernize. Retrieved November 9, 2018, from CNN website: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/korean-traditional-hanok/index.html
Ondol (Korean home heating system) — an ancient heating system lasting millennia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2018, from Antique Alive website: http://www.antiquealive.com/Blogs/Ondol_Korean_Home_Heating_System.html
Sweeney, A. (2012, December 26). A history and use of ondol: Korea’s traditional heating system. Retrieved November 9, 2018, from Gwangju News website: http://gwangjunewsgic.com/features/a-history-and-use-of-ondol-koreas-traditional-heating-system/
Technique. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2018, from Korea Tourism Organization website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AC/AC_EN_4_5_2_5.jsp
