Dezeen Magazine

Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti

Top-heavy block in Seoul features red brick top and concrete base

Four floors clad in slim red bricks sit above the concrete base of this office and apartment block in the South Korean city Seoul, which was designed by local firm Stocker Lee Architetti.

The Nonhyun 101-1 building is located in the Gangnam district, a commercial area in the south of Seoul.

Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti

Stocker Lee Architetti chose red brickwork as the primary material to help the mixed-use building to stand out in its densely built location. The long and thin bricks cover the upper four floors, which are equally into flats and office space.

Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti

The ground floor is made of reinforced concrete and is slightly smaller than the floors above. This top-heavy construction creates a large angled overhang, which covered the entrance to a cafe.

"Selected materials remark the strong contrast with the context and recreate a new order in this high-density area of the city," said Stocker Lee Architetti.

Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti

"A concrete basement, shaped by the structure, generates a filter space between inside and outside, public and private," added the studio. "It identifies the main entrance and the ground floor cafe and it also structurally supports a clear block of bricks on top."

Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti

A pair of apartments are placed in the top two levels. These floors are stepped back to create terraces surrounded by balustrades, which are made up of vertical metal pieces coloured the same dark red as the brickwork.

Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti

Each of the flats are arranged differently. Both have open-plan kitchen, dining and living areas, but one features two bedrooms and bathrooms, while the other has just one of each.

Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti

The inside of the building is finished minimally with reinforced concrete walls left mainly exposed throughout. Just a few are plastered and painted white.

Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti

A mixture of burgundy and grey tile floors are used in the offices, while wooden floorboards cover the apartments.

Each apartment also features white kitchen cabinets and bathrooms lined with muted green tiles.

Nonhyun 101-1 joins new office blocks by Wise Architecture and ThePlus Architects in the city. Wise Architecture also used brickwork for the design of its ABC office block, while ThePlus Architects created a faceted white building for a book publisher.

Photography is by Simone Bossi.


Project credits: 

Architect: Stocker Lee Architetti
Project team: Dong Joon Lee and Melanie Stocker
Civil engineer: KyuSang Guak (Harmony Ing)
Construction company: Jehyo, Seoul

More images and plans

Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Site plan
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Basement floor plan
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Ground floor plan
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
First floor plan
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Second floor plan
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
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Nonhyeon by Stocker Lee Architetti
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