Layers Of Life: The Blue House In Korea

Gyuam-Myeon used to be a hive of activity; but when a bridge was built that diverted business elsewhere, many buildings fell into disuse. The Segan Project for urban regeneration has been revitalizing the area, and the ‘Blue House’ is the first of a long line of projects. The building was originally home to a traditional restaurant, that over time transitioned into a residential space, and then — sadly — to degradation. When Starsis took the project on, the building was unstable, with a multitude of materials layered upon one another. With walls that were not aligned and a roof that needed support, the logical solution to the building’s instability would perhaps have been to tear the entire thing down. The architects at Starsis felt differently: “the atmosphere of the place reminded us of [the] old days; it was truly beautiful to us. We felt a compulsive need to leave the things that silently guarded this place as they were.” The result is a remodeled building that embraces the buildings layered history, finished with steel cladding and a bright, clean interior.