This project, located in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, is a neighborhood office building completed in 2022.
The design emphasizes minimalism and purity through the use of light-colored brick cladding, creating a bright and clean urban presence.
A vertical glass strip, framed by sharp masonry planes, introduces daylight deep into the building and creates a strong architectural gesture visible from the street.
The ground floor features transparent glazing to maximize street-level engagement, while a continuous narrow band of windows wraps around the upper floor, enhancing horizontal flow and visual lightness.
A perforated brick detail near the top not only serves as a ventilation and lighting element but also adds texture and character to the otherwise monolithic façade.
Situated near key transportation and green spaces, the building’s form and materiality harmonize with its surroundings while asserting a contemporary identity.
The exterior is defined by a minimalist, monolithic form clad in light gray brick, giving the building a refined yet understated presence within the urban streetscape.
The vertical massing is accentuated by clean, uninterrupted planes, with only strategic openings—such as the horizontal window band and the vertical glass strip—punctuating the façade to create contrast and rhythm.
A perforated brick section near the upper level functions as both a ventilation element and an architectural detail, breaking the solidity of the surface while maintaining privacy.
Ground-level transparency, achieved through expansive glazing, creates an inviting street interface and strengthens the connection between the building’s interior and the pedestrian environment.
Overall, the façade composition balances solidity and openness, traditional masonry texture and modern glass, resulting in a contemporary and contextually sensitive architectural expression.
The lower portion of the building emphasizes openness and accessibility through large, transparent glass panels that create a strong visual connection with the street.
The main entrance is subtly recessed and highlighted with warm lighting, providing both a welcoming atmosphere and a sense of depth within the otherwise flat façade.
A gentle curve at the corner of the entrance softens the rigid geometry of the structure, adding a tactile human scale to the design.
The use of the same light gray brick cladding on the ground level maintains material consistency, allowing the glass storefront to stand out without disrupting the overall monolithic appearance.
This combination of transparency, detail, and material continuity ensures that the ground level engages pedestrians while preserving the building’s minimalist architectural identity.
Staircase Design – Integrating Functionality and Minimalist Aesthetics
The staircase design features a combination of durability and refined detailing, aligning with the building’s overall minimalist aesthetic.
Interior stairs are framed by slender metal railings in a warm tone, complemented by light gray brick walls that provide textural continuity with the exterior.
A large wooden-framed mirror at the landing visually expands the space, adding warmth and contrast to the otherwise cool-toned material palette.
The exterior stair utilizes dark granite treads paired with lighter risers, creating a crisp visual rhythm while ensuring slip resistance and long-term wear.
A glass wall along the exterior stair maximizes daylight and visual openness, while the continuation of brick wall surfaces reinforces material consistency across inside and outside spaces.
