Spring into a Korean Hanok!

We recently wrote about how Seoul's mayor was moving into a 100-year-old hanok. We also visited Hyundai Card's newly built DESIGN LIBRARY that was designed with strong influences from hanok. Do we see a trend here??? It seems that people in Korea are starting to appreciate the aesthetics of these traditional homes more and more.

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Growing Prevalence of Hanok

The rapid destruction of hanoks was a concern for the Korean government back in the 2000s, instigating a new beautification policy that encouraged people to mend their homes with government support. Since then, not only have hanok-filled neighborhoods around Korea blossomed into historically-rich preservation sites, but their influences have permeated into other design projects around the country.

Hanok-inspired Places

Recently the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized 11 places in Korea as model examples of hanok-inspired spaces. What is interesting is that ACTUAL hanoks were excluded from this list. Instead the list highlights spaces that have blended the old and the new in a non-home setting. Below are a few entries that made the cut.

Baesangmyun Brewery has taken cues from hanok to create its courtyard space, that holds ceramic stills. The open courtyard is surrounded by wooden, hanok-inspired structures.

Dadam is a high end Korean restaurant operated by Korean conglomerate, CJ Group. It has been popular for hosting foreign visitors and is known for its hanok-influenced restaurant interiors as well as the exquisite Korean serving plates used.

 

Chosun Hotel has renovated some of its rooms to have hanok-inspired interiors. The entire floor surface was created with plain levels to reinterpret the floors that Koreans lay down to sleep on. Furthermore the open space has a zen-like atmosphere which is representative of hanok style.

Experience Hanok for Yourself

As spring has finally arrived on the peninsula, we recommend you get out and experience hanok for yourself. Bukchon ("The North Village"), located in the heart of Seoul, has successfully preserved an urban setting that dates back 600 years. Many of the hanoks found here are currently being used as private homes. Aside from admiring the architecture through walking tours, there are also a string of art galleries, museums and restaurants for you to enjoy. The city has also set up "Bukchon 8 Views" which are designated photo spots that offer the most riveting views of hanoks and their surroundings. For more information, visit http://bukchon.seoul.go.kr/eng/index.jsp.

It is interesting to see where this hanok trend will go. Where would you like to see hanok influence next?

About the author by Anna C.

Avid fan of all things Korean whether it be technology, design, art or culture. I am always interested in finding and sharing the hottest innovations and trends originating from Korea. In my spare time you'll find me roaming the streets of Seoul enjoying the beautiful scenes of the city that combines both the traditional and the new.

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