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Layers of Seoul
Layers of Seoul is a weekly blog post consisting of the stories of Seoul’s structures and neighborhoods. From the first apartment in South Korea to the last remaining hanok villages, this blog aims to uncover the layers of history, culture, and transformation that shape the city. Specifically, our members hope to explore the connections between how architecture can play a role in creating communities, especially in South Korea’s highly developed and technologically advanced landscape.
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SAPC: Special Edition
From SAPC members, Thank you all for keeping up with our blog posts throughout the entire year! Over the course of this semester we worked on 2 rooftop café designs which we presented to the principal, Mr. Macklin. The designs will be shown to external contractors and realised hopefully by the summer of 2027. To mark the end of the year and our projects, we would like to allow our members to describe their experiences in SAPC this school year. They were asked the following qu
SAPC
May 316 min read
Sungnyemun Restoration: Architecture, Memory, and Identity of Korea
Name: Sungnyemun Architect: Unknown Date: 1396, restored 5th of May, 2013 Materials: Granite, wood Location: Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea In the heart of Seoul stands Sungnyemun, more commonly known as Namdaemun, one of the most important surviving gates from Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. First completed in 1398, the structure became the main southern entrance to the walled capital and symbolized both protection and prestige for the city. In February of 2008, an arson attack
Lisa Kim
Mar 252 min read
Hidden Between Palaces
Writer: Grace Kim Name: Bukchon Hanok Village Architect: Unknown Approximate Date: Late 19th - Early 20th centuries Materials: Wood frames, stone foundations, clay roof tiles (giwa), hanji (traditional Korean paper) Location: Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea The first time I went into Bukchon Hanok Village, it didn’t feel like entering a tourist attraction. It felt like accidentally walking into another era. Right next to streets in Seoul, filled with cars, cafes, and con
SAPC
Mar 112 min read
Where Architecture Listens to Nature
Writer: Yuna Ock Name: Seokpajeong Architect: Kim Heung-geun Approximate Date: ~1860's Materials: Timber and Granite Location: Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul When I first saw Seokpajeong, it did not feel like I was in Seoul. The city noise faded, replaced by wind brushing through the trees and the mountain's quiet presence behind it as I admired the site. Unlike grand palaces that symbolize control and strength, Seokpajeong feels more personal. It seems like a space where o
SAPC
Mar 42 min read
Disappearing in Plain Sight
Writer: Erica Kim Name: Juyeongru Pavilion (Changdeokgung Palace) Architect: Royal Architects of the Joseon Dynasty Approximate Date: Rebuilt in 1776 Materials: Pine wood, stone, and mineral-based pigments (Dancheong) Location: Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea Have you ever looked at a traditional Korean building and thought of how vibrant the colors were? When I first saw those vibrant reds and blues of Dancheong paint under traditional roofs, the colors felt bold and lou
SAPC
Mar 42 min read
When the Temple Meets the Sky
Writer: Celine Jun Name: Buseoksa Temple Architect: Unknown Architect Approximate Date: 676 C.E. Materials: Wood, Stone, Clay Location: Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province When I visited Buseoka, there was a quiet and calm atmosphere that the temple brought. There were not a lot of people, but it felt like one of the famous tourist places in South Korea. Many celebrities uploaded on their instagram. The walk up was intriguing but the view was worth it. The mountains felt
SAPC
Feb 112 min read
The Palace That Doesn’t Look "Korean"
Name: Seokjojeon (Deoksugung Palace) Architect: G.R. Harding (British) Approximate Date: 1910 Materials: Granite, Wood, Plaster Location: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul When you think of a Korean palace, you would probably imagine wooden beams, tiled roofs, and peaceful gardens. Then you turn to Deoksugung and WOAH—you’re looking at what looks like a Greek temple or a miniature White House. This is Seokjojeon. I chose this specific architecture because its identity is q
SAPC
Jan 282 min read
A Colonial Vestige
Name: Dongguksa Architect/Designer: Monk Uchida Date/Year: 1913 Materials: wood, stone, tiles Location: Gunsan, Jeollanamdo, South Korea Standing on a quiet hillside overlooking the port city of Gunsan is Dongguksa temple. Although seemingly trivial in importance, it holds great historical significance as well as controversy as this temple represents the struggle between Korean and Japanese cultures during the Japanese colonial period. “Comfort Women” statues are present
Tyger Byun
Jan 212 min read
When Architecture Becomes a Canvas, Seoul Light DDP
Name: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) – Seoul Light DDP Architect/Designer: Zaha Hadid Architects Date/Year: DDP completed 2014 / Seoul Light DDP (annual, since 2019) Materials: Aluminum Panels, Concrete, Glass, Digital Projection, LED Light Location: Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea In recent years, winter in Seoul has come to mean more than cold air and holiday lights. It has come to signify buildings that glow, move, and tell stories. One of the most notable examples of this
Chloe Park
Jan 142 min read
Senior Wall Progress
Currently, the Senior Wall project that we started last school year is being built on the 2nd floor of the main building. As of now, the 18th of December, the main carpentry work has been completed and progress is being made on painting. The project is set to be completed soon and will be unveiled when the new semester starts on the 5th of January. Below is a selection of photos of the progress. The faces of the workers have been obscured for privacy reasons.
SAPC
Dec 18, 20251 min read
SAPC: Special Edition
From SAPC members, Hello everyone! We are quickly approaching the end of the school year, and we would like to review what we have accomplished over the past 5 months. This semester, we have worked on two big projects: the rooftop layout design and the room decorations! Continually, the members of our club would like to introduce themselves and their experiences in our club. Thank you for always enjoying our blog posts! :)) Name: Alina Lee Grade: 11 Favourite Architecture: Th
SAPC
Dec 8, 20256 min read
A Bridge that Feels Like a Mysterious Path
Writer: Erica Kim Name: Woljeonggyo Bridge (월정교) & Chwigeumgyo Bridge (취금교) Architect/Designer: Unspecified Approximate Date: 8th century (Unified Silla); restored 2018 Materials: Wood, stone foundation, traditional Korean paintwork (단청) Location: Gyo-dong, Gyeongju, South Korea There are a lot of places where you can "feel" its history. Woljeongyo Bridge in Gyeongju was one of those for me. As soon as I stepped onto its dancheong-painted corridor, I had this weird sensa
SAPC
Nov 26, 20252 min read
My Life as a Buddhist Monk
Name: Bulguksa Architect: Unknown Date: ~774 C.E Materials: Wood on Stone Terrace Location: Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do I may have been a Buddhist monk in another life. My parents were raised in Buddhist families, as have many Koreans, but we’ve migrated as a nation to globalized technology and a powerhouse of semiconductor manufacturing. But maybe, if the miracle on the Han River never happened, I wouldn’t be writing this blog. Maybe, I would be sitting on one of the int
Woosung Choi
Nov 19, 20252 min read
Still Standing: The Pagoda of Bunhwangsa
Name: Stone Pagoda of Bunhwangsa Architect/Designer: Unknown Date/Year: 634 C.E Materials: Stone Brick Location: Bunhwangsa, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do In the famed ancient city of Gyeongju lies the important Silla-era masterpieces such as Seokguram and Cheomseongdae. While it is important to note these great examples of architecture, it is also important to appreciate the lesser-known structures that hide much more history than they may appear. The pagoda of Bunhwangsa
Tyger Byun
Nov 12, 20252 min read
The Silent Dialogue Between Wood and Mountain: Buseoksa’s Muryangsujeon
Name: Muryangsujeon Hall of Buseoksa Temple Architect/Designer: Unknown (Goryeo Dynasty Craftsmen) Date/Year: c. 13th Century CE Materials: Wood, Stone, Clay Roof Tiles Location: Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea Ancient Korean architecture often reveals an intimate dialogue with nature. Rather than overpowering the landscape, traditional builders embraced its contours, allowing architecture to become part of the environment. Muryangsujeon Hall of Buseoks
Chloe Park
Nov 5, 20252 min read
Where the Buddha and His Disciples Meet
Writer: Yuna Ock Name of Building: Dabotap Pagoda and the Seokgatap Pagoda Architect/Designer : Unknown craftsmen Approximate date/Year: 8th century Materials: Granite stone Location: Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju When I visited Gyeongju with my grandma 3 years ago, the two pagodas standing tall in the middle of Bulguksa Temple, standing side by side, stopped me and drew my attention. One was antique, simple, and geometric, making me feel that I stepped into the Shilla kingd
SAPC
Oct 22, 20252 min read
The Temple That Isn’t There
Author: Erica Kim Name of building: Hwangnyongsa Temple Site (황룡사지) Architect/Designer: Built under King Jinheung of Silla & expanded by Queen Seondeok Date/year: 553 CE – destroyed in 1238 CE Materials: Wood, stone, and clay tiles Location: Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea On the quiet fields of Gyeongju, there lies the Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, where grass grows over the land that was once the spiritual heart of the Silla Kingdom. Though you may walk p
SAPC
Oct 15, 20252 min read
Goguryeo Tombs with Murals: A Time Machine Into the Goguryeo Dynasty
Name of Building: Goguryeo tombs with murals Architect: Unknown Approximate Date: 3rd century BCE-7th century CE Materials: Stone chambers covered in Earth mounds, natural pigments Location: Near Pyongyang, North Korea When you first take a glance at the Goguryeo tomb murals, you’re probably wondering a lot of things. What scenes are depicted? Who are these figures? In fact, these aren’t just faded paintings on old stone walls—they’re like a time machine into a kingdom t
Lisa Kim
Oct 2, 20252 min read
Mireuksa: Vestiges of a Great Kingdom
Name: Mireuksa Architect: Unknown Date/Year: ~597-641 C.E Materials: Mainly wood and stone Location: Iksan, Jeollabuk-do Mireuksa Temple Site At the foot of a mountain jutting out from the vast plains of the Jeolla province, stands an unassuming litter of stones and a half-ruined stone pagoda. However, more than a 1000 years ago, this site was the crown jewel of the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje. In the 13th-century text Samguk yusa (三國遺事), it is said that, in 602 C.E, Kin
Tyger Byun
Sep 24, 20252 min read
Exploring Prehistoric Megaliths: The Dolmens of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa
Name: Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites Architect/Designer: Unknown (Bronze Age Communities) Date/Year : c. 1000 BCE - 300 BCE Materials: Stones Location: Gochang (Jeollabuk-do), Hwasun (Jeollanam-do), Ganghwa (Incheon) Prehistoric architectures are often buried under layers of soil and time. Archaeologists carefully uncover and preserve these structures to showcase them to the world. Among these, dolmens, the ancient stone tombs from the Bronze Age, reveal the soc
Chloe Park
Sep 17, 20252 min read
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