Songpa Micro-Housing

songpa micro-housing

songpa micro-housing

The problem of urban density and housing costs is global. As unit types get smaller however, land costs coupled with developer driven profit margins can merely create a provisional housing type with little social value. By mining the discrepancy between maximum floor area ratios and maximum zoning envelopes, Songpa Micro-Housing provides a new typology that extends the limits of the housing unit to also include semi-public circulation, balconies, and the thickness of walls. Like the ambiguous gel around a tapioca pearl, this ‘Tapioca Space’ becomes a soft intersection between public/private and interior/exterior, creating social fabrics between neighbors.

Fourteen ‘unit blocks’ allow residents to either claim a single space, or in the case where a couple or friends desire to do so, recombine the blocks for larger configurations. This flexibility accommodates changing live and work situations allowing residents to occupy the building longer and therefore more sustainably. Further generating the idea of community, exhibition spaces on the ground floor, basement, and second floors are spatially linked to the units as a shared living room. Although the zoning regulations requires the building to be lifted for parking, this open ground plan is also used to pull pedestrians in from the street and down a set of auditorium-like steps, connecting city and building residents to the exhibition and cafe spaces below.

 

 

songpa micro-housing aerial

songpa site

The required ground floor parking doubles as a public plaza for events.

 

 

 

 

By leveraging zoning constraints, residual space (or what we call tapioca space) becomes semi-public shared zones for the residents.

By leveraging zoning constraints, residual space (or what we call tapioca space) becomes semi-public shared zones for the residents.

 

 

songpa tapioca space

Tapioca Space: residual space between units form shared connections as well as provides at least 3 exposures for all units.

 

 

 

 

songpa ground level

The ground floor becomes an open-program area that allows gatherings, expansion of interior spaces, and parking.

 

 

 

View of Entry Plaza: The micro-auditorium, entry lobby, and sky-wells punctuate the public open ground plane.

View of Entry Plaza: The micro-auditorium, entry lobby, and sky-wells punctuate the public open ground plane.

 

 

 

songpa theater cafe

The micro-theater doubles as an entry to the cafe and toy gallery below grade.

 

 

 

Micro auditorium and cafe: During the day, the micro-auditorium doubles as a living room/cafe that residents and the public can share.

Micro auditorium and cafe: During the day, the micro-auditorium doubles as a living room/cafe that residents and the public can share.

 

 

 

songpa micro-theater, live show

…while in the evening the triple glazed walls in the theater allows for live performances.

 

 

songpa micro courtyard

A micro courtyard connects the activity of the ground floor to the toy gallery below.

 

 

songpa level 2 galleries

Second Floor Galleries: Micro-units are easily converted to galleries to allow for innovative curation as well as extend the life of the living units above.

 

 

 

songpa galleries

The ‘building blocks’ of units can easily be converted to gallery or other uses.

 

 

 

songpa 2nd floor apartments

Alternately the 2nd floor can be used as apartments: even though there are only 2 unit types, differing relationships can be set up for differing personalities.

 

 

 

songpa micro living animation

The 120sf basic unit allows all aspects of daily life through efficient operable walls. Clerestory windows bring in light and perceptually extends the ceiling plane.

songpa combined unit

Through adjacency and bridges, the 120sf unit modules can also be combined into larger 240sf units.

 

 

 

 SECTION: The void spaces are either shared by the units or visual extend the interior experience while still maintaining privacy

Section: The void spaces are either shared by the units or visually extend the interior experience while still maintaining privacy.

 

 

songpa corridor

Corridors connected to natural light, ventilation, and views, also become places for social interaction.

 

 

 

The multifunctional screen works as railings, barrier, and drainage paths.

The multifunctional screen works as railings, barrier, and drainage paths.

 

 

songpa screen elevation

Unfolded elevation: A fine grain screen takes on the multi-purpose properties of the adhoc but highly functional additions seen on neighboring buildings. Depending on the location on the building it works as a railing, drainage path, privacy barrier, and bike rack while masking utilities such as conduits and gas lines.

 

 

The contextual demands of of parking, paving, visual barriers, railings, drainage, and infrastructure are incorporated into the screen’s performance.

 

 

The many varied patterns of the screen is created out of just 12 modules.

The many varied patterns of the screen is created out of just 9 modules.

 

 

PROJECT CREDITS:
architect
Jinhee Park AIA
John Hong AIA, Hyun Seunghoon, Taylor Harper, Mark Pomarico, Evan Cerilli, Lee Donguk, Allison Austin, Yufeng Zheng, Victor Michel, Virginia Fernandez Alonso
architect of record
Dyne Architects
structural engineer
Mirae Structural Design Group
construction manager
Kiro Construction
outdoor furniture fabricator
Slyducks
acoustic engineer and fabricator
RPG Korea
gallery owner/operator
Everyday Mooonday
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