Dezeen Magazine

JMY Architects combines living and retail spaces on a narrow site in Busan

An apartment, community space and shop are accommodated in this skinny building squeezed onto a narrow plot in the South Korean city of Busan by local office JMY Architects (+ slideshow).

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

The site for the building in Busan's Daecheong-dong district measures just five metres wide by 12 metres deep, so JMY Architects chose to combine the various functions by stacking them vertically.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

By uniting a three-storey apartment with a commercial gallery space used by the owner, the building aims to demonstrate the potential for restricted urban sites to merge accommodation with retail and leisure activities.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

"The project promotes space as a medium for urban life, where life expands toward the city and city life merges into one building," said the architects in a statement.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

"It introduces a new possibility for small-scale housing and the expandability of human life as an alternative method for suburban revitalisation, rather than large-scale development projects such as new town developments."

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

A key challenge was to incorporate a mixed-use program while meeting regulations governing the need for appropriate distance from neighbouring buildings, as well as the requirement for a direct evacuation route.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

Circulation issues are resolved by positioning a staircase at the rear of the building. The stairs are enclosed by concrete walls interrupted by openings that contain metal mesh panels.

The mesh surfaces allow light and air to reach the stairwell, which is just a few inches away from adjacent buildings on three sides.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

On the ground floor, a full-height window facing the street displays the interior of the showroom space.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

The entrance to the showroom is set back from the pavement below a cantilevered corner of the building.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

The first floor accommodates an open-plan space that can be used by the local community. The majority of its glazed end wall is treated with a frosted finish to restrict visibility into the room from the street.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

The apartment is located on the upper levels, with the master bedroom suite and small lounge on the third floor; a kitchen, dining and lounge area on the fourth floor; and a guest bedroom at the top.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

Both the master bedroom and main living space culminate in glass surfaces, which incorporate doors that open onto sheltered balconies set back from the street-facing elevation.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

A staircase connecting the different levels follows the boundary wall and is screened from view by frosted glazing.

A double-height void provides a visual link between the top two floors and enables the glazed end wall to extend upwards and provide better views of the sky.

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects

The same precast concrete panels used in the stairwell are applied throughout the interior and extend onto the balconies.

Photography is by Joonhwan Yoon.


Project credits:

Architects: JMY Architects
Project architect: Jaemin Yoon
Design team: Hyukhyu Shin, Kwangjae Ryu, Minji Kim, Eunji Choi, Yeonjung Lee, Seongmin Lee, Jinsoo Kim
Collaborators: MOA Structure, HL Consulting Engineers, Wookdongbangjae
Construction: CS Construction
Interior construction: Site people
Graphic design: Social Graphics

Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects
Site plan – click for larger image
Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects
Ground floor plan – click for larger image
Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects
First floor plan – click for larger image
Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects
Second floor plan – click for larger image
Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects
Third floor plan – click for larger image
Daecheong-dong Small House by JMY Architects