Seeking Wisdom in Tradition: The Promise of Future Housing

Abstract

As a result of rapid development in the last 40 years, modern Korean housing has experienced the indiscriminate vertical growth of high-rise slab construction which has overlooked both the traditions of the Korean family and society that were embodied in the traditional house. This has compromised cultural and generational relationships, created conflicts among neighbors, and isolated people from nature thereby causing disconnection between Koreans and their own unique cultural elements. Contrary to the current housing conditions, Korean desire for a healthier environment and cultural standing in the world keeps rising. This thesis will introduce design strategies and concepts to help mitigate these problems in contemporary housing by proposing a new type of housing in Seoul, Korea that supports the tradition and characteristic of Korea. It will identify the essence of tradition embodied in the traditional house, and re-envision contemporary design ideas for Korean society that can lead to new types of and more enlightened housing for its future.