The buildings are usually built on a stone foundation and topped with a curved roof with tiles, supported on brackets and supported by pillars. The walls are made of earth (adobe walls), or sometimes consist entirely of movable wooden doors. The distance between two pillars is about 3.7 m, the buildings are designed so that there is always space between the “inside” and “outside” parts of the house.

The cantilever or bracket structure is a specific architectural element that has been designed in various ways over time. If simple brackets were already used during the Goguryeo state period (-668), then in the palaces of Pyongyang, for example, a curved version was used (brackets were placed only on the capitals of the building's columns), which was developed during the Goryeo dynasty (-1392). A striking example is the Amit Hall of Phuseok Temple in Andongye. Later, starting from the middle of the Goryeo Dynasty and even before the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty, under the influence of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (-1368), a complex cantilever system was developed in which brackets were also placed on transverse horizontal beams. Namdaemun in Seoul, a national treasure of Korea, is perhaps the most famous example of buildings with this structure.

Excavated houses that may have appeared in southern regions, it is believed that they were built as warehouses in order to protect grain from animals and keep it in excellent condition. This style of architecture survives in the form of two-story shelters and observation posts in gardens in the countryside.

During the Mumun ceramic era, buildings were pit dwellings with mud walls or roofed roofs. The raised floor first appeared on the Korean Peninsula in the middle of the Mumun era (850-550 BC).

Over the past decades, South Korea has become one of the most urbanized countries in the world. Modern Korean architecture amazes with its original forms and new finishing materials such as LED panels. True, this applies for the most part to public buildings. When it comes to residential (especially private) construction, Koreans turn out to be much more conservative. Still, some projects definitely deserve attention.

The Curving House, Gyeonggi-do

The architects were faced with the task of placing a house and car parking on a small plot and at the same time preserving a green area. So the building was raised on concrete pilings to provide parking space and curved to create space for a garden.

Scale-ing House, Seongnam

Architect: JOHO Architecture

The complex broken shape of the building is due to the desire of the customers to make maximum use of natural lighting. The difference in roof height allows the sun to penetrate the rooms from three sides: east, south and west. To create an unusual “spiny” facade, ordinary and basalt bricks were used, which were divided in two and laid sharp corners out.

Gyopyeong-Ri House, Gyeonggi-do

Architect: Studio Origin

The project is distinguished by a complex structure consisting of three interpenetrating volumes of different heights. The concrete surfaces of the southern and eastern facades are decorated with brick screens.

House H 1115-7, Sacheon

Architect: A.E.A

The building consists of three heavy vertical volumes that form a single structure due to complex system corridors and common platform. The dark brick façade contrasts with light polycarbonate inserts and a horizontal concrete volume.

Fortress Brick House, Seoul

Architect: Wise Architecture

“Brick Fortress” combines two private houses into an ensemble: one for the parents, the other for the son’s family. Brick plays a major role in the project, creating a feeling of strong connection between all components of the building.

Beyond the Screen House, Seoul

Architect: OBBA bureau

This apartment building was designed by students of Rem Koolhaas - architects Soyun Li and Senzhon Kwak. In this project, they relied on compactness: on three floors of the building there were 14 complexly arranged (with multifaceted walls and ceilings) apartments. The facade is decorated with “perforated” brickwork.

Pyrus House, Seoul

Architect: bureau 'Snow AIDe

The concept of this private house is built around a home cinema. A semi-basement room without windows was allocated for him. To prevent vibration and sound from destroying the house, the remaining zones were located at a certain distance.

I would like to dedicate today's program to traditional Korean architecture.

Since ancient times, at least since the middle of the first millennium AD, Korean architecture has been part of Far Eastern architecture. It was formed under Chinese influence, and itself had a considerable influence on Japan. Probably, for many of you, the words “Far Eastern architecture” make you imagine low pavilions under intricately curved roofs, landscaped parks, and picturesque gazebos. In general, this is also true of Korean architecture. And the passion for curved roofs, and the ability to place buildings (especially palaces and temples) among a carefully organized landscape - all this is characteristic of her. However, there were significant differences between Korean architecture and the architecture of neighboring countries. The main thing is, perhaps, the laconicism of Korean buildings, the lack of pretentiousness, which makes Korean architecture similar to classical Korean ceramics, which has always been famous for its noble simplicity. However, this laconicism was partly forced - after all, in the old days, Korea was the poorest of all the countries of the Far East.

The main material for construction in Korea was wood. Most often in Korean houses, the walls did not bear the structural load. The basis of the house was a frame made of thick and strong wooden pillars and beams connecting them. This frame supported the massive roof. Only after the construction of the frame, a kind of skeleton of the house, was completed, the builders began installing light walls. As a rule, the walls were made of adobe: the wicker base was coated with clay, and then plastered and whitewashed. By the way, this technology is very similar to the one that is now used to build high-rise buildings all over the world, because when building a skyscraper, they also usually first build a frame from steel structures, and then the walls are hung on it.

It must be said that erecting the frame of a Korean house, especially if it was a large structure, was not easy; it required considerable experience from the carpenters. Nowadays, there are almost no craftsmen left in Korea who would be able to build a house according to traditional canons, so the Korean government is even taking special measures to preserve ancient carpentry skills, paying benefits to the few remaining craftsmen and scholarships to their students. One of the master carpenters even received the honorary title of “national treasure.” However, these efforts are not very helpful, there are fewer and fewer craftsmen, so the restoration of a traditional house now costs a lot of money.

A characteristic feature of an old Korean house is its massive roof. In rich houses it was covered with tiles; in the vast majority of cases it was thatched, but this roof was always distinguished by its characteristic curved outlines. You are probably familiar with them from numerous pictures depicting not only Korean, but also Chinese or Japanese houses. There are many explanations for why Far East preferred roofs of this shape. The most popular explanation was related to the ancient belief that devilry can only move in a straight line. The Korean (Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese) devil was so terrified of curved lines that he simply physically could not slide down the curved roof and thus fall on the heads of the unsuspecting owners of the house.

In the old days, all Korean houses were one-story. In very ancient times, multi-story buildings existed in Korea, but over time they stopped building them, and by the beginning of our century, Korea was a one-story country. Korean palaces, for example, were more like parks, with numerous mansions and pavilions scattered throughout, connected by passages.

It must be said that very few ancient buildings have survived to this day in Korea. This is partly because wooden structures rarely last more than a couple of centuries in the humid, hot Korean climate. However, much greater damage to the monuments of Korean architecture was caused by the devastating wars that swept across the Korean Peninsula more than once. And it is no coincidence that the few ancient buildings that, despite everything, have survived in Korea, are mainly located in secluded mountain valleys, where foreign invasions and internal unrest have not reached (mainly these are the buildings of ancient Buddhist temples and monasteries).

What happened to traditional architecture in our time? The answer to this question is not so simple. Very few houses that would be built according to all the rules of traditional architecture are now being built in Korea, but the influence of tradition is obvious when looking at many modern Korean buildings.

Korean architecture- the totality of all buildings and structures built on the territory of the Korean Peninsula, from ancient times to the present day, which, as a rule, are designed in the traditional style of Korean culture.

The buildings are usually built on a stone foundation and topped with a curved roof with tiles, supported on brackets and supported by pillars. The walls are made of earth (adobe walls), or sometimes consist entirely of movable wooden doors. The distance between two pillars is about 3.7 m, the buildings are designed so that there is always space between the “inside” and “outside” parts of the house.

The cantilever or bracket structure is a specific architectural element that has been designed in various ways over time. If simple brackets were already used during the Goguryeo state period (-668), then in the palaces of Pyongyang, for example, a curved version was used (brackets were placed only on the capitals of the building's columns), which was developed during the Goryeo dynasty (-1392). A striking example is the Amit Hall of Phuseok Temple in Andongye. Later, starting from the middle of the Goryeo Dynasty and even before the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty, under the influence of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (-1368), a complex cantilever system was developed in which brackets were also placed on transverse horizontal beams. Namdaemun in Seoul, a national treasure of Korea, is perhaps the most famous example of buildings with this structure.

Log houses were built by laying one log horizontally on top of another. The gaps between the logs were covered with clay to prevent drafts. Houses of this kind still exist in the mountainous areas of Gangwon Province in South Korea.

Excavated houses, which may have appeared in the southern regions, are believed to have been built as warehouses to keep grain away from animals and in excellent condition. This style of architecture survives in the form of two-story shelters and observation posts in gardens in the countryside.

During the Mumun ceramic era, buildings were pit dwellings with mud walls or roofed roofs. The raised floor first appeared on the Korean Peninsula in the middle of the Mumun era (850-550 BC).

According to the Chinese texts of the San-guo zhi, there were three types of Korean housing during this period: the dugout, the log house or log house, and above-ground houses. However, only the remains of dugouts can be identified. The dugouts consisted of a pit, 20-150 cm deep, and a span of grass and clay, supported by a triangular wooden structure that protected from wind and rain. Neolithic dugouts had a round or oval pit about 5-6 m in diameter with a hearth in the center. Most of the early dugouts were located on hills. After these dwellings began to be built near rivers, the pits acquired a rectangular shape, and also became large and with two separate hearths. In 108 BC. BC, after the fall of the Gojoseon Kingdom, Chinese rule was established. Government buildings of this period were constructed of wood, brick and tile roofing, having features of Chinese construction. Chinese architecture influenced Korean architecture.

Reconstruction of the oriental stone pagoda, which was built during the Baekje era at Mirauksa Temple.

The construction of Buddhist temples was greeted with enthusiasm after the spread of Buddhism in 372 from Northern China. A series of excavations carried out in -1938 revealed sites with several large temples near Pyongyang, as well as in the areas of Cheongam-ri, Wono-ri and Sango-ri. Excavations have revealed that the temples were built in the Goguryeo style known as "Three Halls - One Pagoda", with a hall on the east, west and north sides of the pagoda, and an entrance gate on the south. In most cases, pagodas had an octagonal layout. The palace buildings appear to have been constructed in the same way.

The first states on the Korean Peninsula were formed between 1000 and 300 BC. e., i.e. back in the Bronze Age. At the beginning of the 4th century. BC e. The state of Ko-Joseon (Ancient Joseon) was founded, which later became the most powerful of the early states of the peninsula. In 109 BC. e. Chinese troops attacked this country and divided its territory into four provinces. However, in 37 BC. e. the country's independence was restored, the state of Koguryo arose, which lasted until 667 AD. e. In 18 BC. e. In the south of Korea, another country arises - the kingdom of Baekje with its capital in Seoul. In 57 BC. e. a third state arose - the kingdom of Silla. Ethnically, these countries were close, preached Buddhism and Confucianism, and spoke the same language. In 668 AD e. there was an attempt to unite Korea into single state, however, in 698 the kingdom of Pekche was restored in the northern part of the country. In this regard, it is very difficult to talk about any features of Korean architecture, but it had its own distinctive features. It was based on the ancient principle of geomangy, i.e. determining the location for the construction of a structure. There was a rule according to which the facade of the building was always directed to the south, mountains rose on the north side, and there should always be a water stream in front of the building. Buddhism, which came from China, laid the foundation for the development of temple and monastery architecture. The architecture of Korea was heavily influenced by Chinese architecture, but Korean architects made their own additions to temple architecture. First of all, in Korea, not wooden, but stone pagodas were developed. Even a certain architectural style arose - the Pekche style. Distinctive feature This style has three pagodas lined up in a row. In addition, a hall surrounded by corridors was attached to the pagoda on the north side. Therefore, Korean pagodas were like temples. Examples of such structures include Bulguksa Monastery and Seokguram Temple, which were built in the era between 667-697. n. e. Korean architecture often used decorative tancheon designs. In Korean architecture, the traditional Korean house, built of clay on one floor, is also well known (see color incl., ill. 60). It was built in the shape of the letters P or G, so that each house had a courtyard. Similar residential buildings began to be built during the Joseon Kingdom.

The main building material in Korea historically was wood, so the earliest buildings were practically not preserved, but quite quickly, faster than in China, wood began to be replaced with stone. From the era of the Three Kingdoms, religious buildings have been preserved: Buddhist temples (sa), tombs (me) and pagodas (tap). The architecture of the tombs is characterized by burial chambers made of stone slabs with stepped ceilings and artificial artificial hills on top. The oldest Korean Buddhist temple can be called Bulkuk-sa Temple (VII-VIII centuries AD), which is located on the outskirts of the city of Gyeongju on Mount Thokhamsan. Korean architects applied the principle of ensemble in this building and placed the monastery buildings on the slopes of the hill. The temple does not consist of one building, but of a number of large buildings made in the form of frame structures. In the center of the ensemble there is a huge two-flight staircase, which opens onto a vast terrace into the courtyard of the main temple of De-un-den, on the sides of which two stone pagodas Tabo-tap (751 AD) and Sega-tap (701 AD) stand symmetrically . n. e.). The main temple of the Bulkuk-sa complex is a wooden building, reconstructed in the 18th century.

The temple is one-story, as is customary in Korea, built on a high stone stylobate and completed with a characteristic tiled roof. It is interesting that the roofs of Korean temples have a steeper curve than those in China. During the Silla era, in the 8th century. n. BC, the Sokuram cave temple was erected. Since there are no rock masses in Korea, the architects built the temple according to the principle of a traditional Korean tomb. They built it from stone at the foot of Mount Thokhamsan, and then covered it with an artificial mound. The front arch of the structure leads to two temple halls - rectangular and round, which were covered with a huge stone dome. This also distinguishes Korean architecture from Chinese: in China they did not know how to build spherical and domed vault structures. Most of the civil, public and residential buildings of the capital of the Silla Kingdom, the city of Gyeongju, VIII-X centuries. n. e. have not survived to this day. However, we can now see the remains of fortress walls and building foundations, which allow us to talk about the gigantic size of these structures. The garden of the An-Ab-Di palace with artificial rocks, grottoes and ponds has been preserved. The famous astronomical tower of Chomsongdae near the city of Gyeongju, erected in 632-647, has also been preserved. n. e. It is considered the oldest astronomical observatory in East Asia. At the end of the 9th century. n. e. The kingdom of Koryo arose, which existed until the beginning of the 14th century. The capital of the state was the city of Songdo (modern Kaesong in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea). During this period, the secular style began to dominate in architecture. Even temple complexes, such as, for example, the Buddhist temple of Sekwangsa in the city of Anbyen (XIV century), Busek-sa in the city of Yongdu (a suburb of Seoul, XIII century) are surrounded by beautiful garden and park ensembles, designed in an absolutely secular architectural style. In the XV-XVI centuries. Korean architecture developed heavily dependent on the Chinese architectural tradition. In 1392, the kingdom of Goryeo was united into a new state - the kingdom of Lee, the capital of which was Seoul. At this time, the city was surrounded by powerful walls with loopholes and eight gates. The architectural appearance of the gate (stone plinths, arched openings and double curved roofs on wooden frames) tells us that Korean architecture of this time was closely related to the Chinese tradition. The royal palaces of Seoul - Changkekgung, Changdekgung and Gyeongbokgung were built on the principle of huge complexes consisting of separate buildings - pavilions, gazebos, bridges, gates, decorative pagodas.

Korean residential architecture during this period finally developed a certain stable layout. A one-story building with two living rooms and a kitchen that open onto the courtyard. The houses are covered with straw mats or tiles. The edges of the roof protrude far and are supported by wooden pillars so that a kind of terrace is formed along the front of the building. Inside, the house is divided by thin partitions. Light enters the house through sliding windows and transom doors. The doors and windows are covered with bars and covered with paper. IN early period During the development of Korean architecture, residential buildings were built from wood. Log houses were built by laying one log horizontally on top of another. The gaps between the logs were covered with clay to prevent drafts. Similar houses still exist in the mountainous areas of Gangwon Province in South Korea. During the Baekje Kingdom, Korean architecture reached its peak. During this period, interesting stone temples were erected. The earliest stone pagoda from Myryuksa Temple in Iksan is of particular interest because it shows the transition from wooden to stone pagodas. The Baekje state adopted various architectural influences, with pagodas emphasizing their origins from Chinese designs. Later important elements Baekje architectural style was adopted by Japan. Miryksa Temple had an unusual structure of three pagodas, which were installed in a straight line running from east to west. Each pagoda had a hall on the north side. Each pagoda and hall appeared to be surrounded by covered corridors, giving the appearance of three separate temples in a "one hall, one pagoda" style. The pagoda discovered in the center of the temple was made of wood, while all the others were made of stone. Sites of a large main hall and central gate were discovered to the north and south of the wooden pagoda.

When excavations were carried out in 1982 at the site of Cheongnimsa Temple, which also included a site of a pagoda of Baekje architecture, the remains of the main and lecture halls, located on the main axis, were discovered one after another to the north of it. The remains of the central gate, the main gate and the reservoir, located on the main axis one after the other, were also discovered to the south of the same pagoda. It turned out that the temple was surrounded by corridors from the central gate to the lecture hall. The “one pagoda” style was typical of Baekje architecture, as confirmed by the results of excavations carried out in 1964 in the Kunsu-ri area and the Kumgangsa Temple in Puye. However, the sections of the Kumgansa Temple buildings located on the main axis run from east to west rather than from south to north. It is possible to draw any conclusions about the architecture of Baekje thanks to a detailed examination of the Horyu-ji Temple in Japan, which architects and technicians from the state of Baekje helped to build. Baekje architecture in Japan flourished with the introduction of Buddhism in 384. At sites where buildings stood during the three early Korean states, patterned tiles and other remains are found, as well as stone pagodas that survived bad times, indicating a highly developed Baekje culture. In the history of the development of Korean architecture, as noted above, the kingdom of Silla played a significant role. The Kingdom of Silla came under Buddhist influence in 527. Since Silla did not border China, the influence of Chinese culture on the temples was minimal.

Hwannensa is one of the early temples of the Silla state, whose important role became known after excavations and research in 1976. It stood in a square surrounded by a rectangular wall 288 m in length.

The area of ​​the area limited by the corridors was 19,040 m2. The Samguk Sagi (Memory of the Three Kingdoms) states that a nine-story wooden pagoda, 80 m high, built in 645, stood on this site. The main hall contains a large image of Shakyamuni Buddha on a stone pedestal. Built in the middle of the 6th century. Hwannensa Temple flourished for more than 680 years, during which time its halls were rebuilt several times. Shortly before the unification of the peninsula under Silla rule (668), the temple was built in the “three halls - one pagoda” style, which sharply distinguishes it from the Miruksa Temple of Baekje times, which was built in the “one hall - one pagoda” style.

The other main temple of the Silla state was Punghwansa, which now has three tiers, although the chronicles say that it was nine tiers. Judging by the ruins, this pagoda was built from hewn stone blocks. Among other stone artifacts, the stones of the flagpole column of the pagoda have been preserved (see color incl., ill. 61).

Buddhist temples of that time were characterized by the fact that in front of the central hall, symmetrically from each other, there were two pagodas on a north-south axis along with other buildings. Bulguksa Temple, built on a stone platform at the foot of Mount Toham near Gyeongju, is the oldest existing temple in Korea. The temple was founded at the beginning of the 6th century. and was completely rebuilt and expanded in 752. The original platform and foundation remain intact to this day, but the existing wooden buildings were rebuilt during the Joseon Dynasty.