Rural comfort, architectural delight

By choosing dark and bright clay tiles, this architect created something unusual in Korea. The tiles cover roofs and façades, resulting in a modern appearance while maintaining a strong connection to the region’s traditional roots.

Korea is among the most densely populated countries in the world, with most people living in cities and small apartments. With the increasing popularity of countryside holidays and the demand of a different living experience – if only for a few days – the need for holiday guesthouses increases. Architect and university professor Kang Jun Lee recently finished an ensemble of five guesthouses in the southwest of South Korea, outside the town of Damyang, near the province capital Gwangju.

How did you approach the guesthouses in Damyang; what were your ideas behind the design?

Kang Jun Lee: I am not a full-time architect and only design occasionally, so I love to experiment with different materials whenever I get the chance. For this project, I really wanted to work with a material that seamlessly covers roof and façade.

On the other hand, I had to fit the houses into their rural setting and the surrounding architectural style. The area of Damyang aims to respect tradition: the local building regulations require the integration of traditional elements and encourage angular roof shapes rather than flat roofs. The nearby Gasa Literature Museum, for example, was newly built, but in the traditional style of this region.

Why did you build separate guesthouses?

Kang Jun Lee: The site is about 1,800 square meters large, and the surrounding buildings are very small. There are mostly single-family houses and small shops. We didn’t want to build the houses too large, so we divided the project into smaller pieces, almost like a village. The concept was to create a collection of small buildings. Also, we wanted to provide a special architectural experience for the guests.

Most Koreans live in cities and in small apartments, so a guesthouse can offer a very different way of living. People want to relax in nature and be close to the mountains, rivers and fields while spending their holidays in buildings with features they don’t have in their apartments, like skylights, angled ceilings, or duplex layouts. That was our goal: to provide a summer house for city people with a special architectural experience.

What architectural experiences do the houses offer?

Kang Jun Lee: Each house has approximately 55 square meters over two storeys with open living rooms and generous windows. From the front, they look like one storey-houses, but the back has two floors. Guests can experience different room heights and can even look down into the living room from above.

What were the ideas of the client?

Kang Jun Lee: The client gave me a lot of freedom in the design but was very clear about the roof material: metal roofs are among the most used materials for roofs in Korea, but the client explicitly wanted to avoid that. It was my job to find an alternative. I was looking for a material that could clad both roof and façade, with a potential variation in colour, which is very atypical in Korean architecture.

As it was my own wish to create this seamless look of a roof that goes on into the façade, I spent a good amount of time looking for a tile that can achieve this. After a while, I found a supplier in Korea who imports clay tiles and blocks from Europe and contacted him. He helped me find the right tile for my needs.

„Even though the appearance of the guesthouses is rather unusual for Korea, the material resembles traditional roof tiles and blends into the Korean landscape while remaining contemporary.” - Kang Jun Lee, Architect

What did you like about Elfino?

Kang Jun Lee: The quality is very good, and the finish is nice: it is neither too glossy, nor too matte. The texture is very similar to traditional Korean roofing materials, but the square shape makes it feel very modern. Another reason I chose the Koramic Elfino tile, was that it is simply hung on metal slats. This type of installation is not very common in Korea; usually, we cement tiles onto walls. Due to their square shape, the Koramic Elfino tiles fit neatly side by side and stack on top of each other.

The neighbouring Gasa Literature Museum is made of white and dark colours. Did you choose the colour to match?

Kang Jun Lee: Yes. The roof materials of the museum resemble the very traditional Korean style, so I picked a similar dark colour for the roof. To create a strong contrast, I paired it with a brighter colour.

It was your first time to work with the Elfino. How did the construction process go?

Kang Jun Lee: The installation is very intuitive and easy. But working with a new product always brings some challenges: as the Elfino is very strong and durable, it is also quite heavy. Since the contractors were not used to working with a tile like that, it took us more time than expected. Luckily, the client is very happy with the final appearance, and the investment is already paying off: bookings are strong, and the reputation of the guesthouses is growing.

How would you describe the overall result?

Kang Jun Lee: The guesthouses feel both unique and traditional. Even though their appearance is rather unusual for Korea, the material resembles traditional roof tiles and blends into the Korean landscape while remaining contemporary.

Who is the client? Will they live there themselves?

Kang Jun Lee: The clients used to live in Gwangju, the nearby city and capital of the province. They ran a kindergarten and are about to retire. They had enough resources to invest in this development, and their dream was to retire in a rural place like Damyang. The project now includes five guesthouses and one private house for the client. They are managing the guesthouses while living next to them.

How do the guests like the houses in Damyang?

Kang Jun Lee: Both the client and guests are very happy. Guests usually stay two or three days and enjoy their time in the houses. The project has already built a good reputation: people like the location, the design and the appearance.