‘Eos’, named after the Greek goddess of dawn, also carries the surnames of its owners, Mr. and Mrs. Lee and Oh. Captivated by the panoramic views from a particular plot in Itaewon-dong, the clients immediately purchased the land, only to later discover the significant challenges it posed for construction. This plot, often featured in TV dramas as a backdrop for hillside communities, offered breathtaking vistas of Seoul.

Seoul's historic urban fabric often reveals small, irregular plots occupied by old single-story traditional houses or unauthorized structures. This site was no exception, holding two such unlicensed buildings, their walls touching, obscuring the true shape of the land beneath.

The primary constraints for the architectural design were the land's size, its irregular shape, and the surrounding physical environment. The access road was narrow, a covered road connecting to a multi-family dwelling's rooftop parking and a retaining wall. With old houses intertwined and no established utility infrastructure (water/sewage) accessible from the road, the construction process was far from smooth.

When the clients first commissioned the design, their foremost request was to enjoy the unparalleled city views from within the house, the very reason they had acquired this elevated plot. However, given the small site and the surrounding buildings on three sides (excluding the road), integrating such expansive views into the interior posed a significant challenge. Another crucial requirement was a basement level with ample natural light, made possible by its accessibility from the lower part of the sloping road. Ultimately, the most critical aspect of this house's design became the strategic vertical zoning of each room according to its function.

The building's mass was directly influenced by strict legal height restrictions (under 12 meters) and complex sunlight regulations due to three adjacent lots to the north, each at a different height. Consequently, the building's form purely reflects the necessary legal setbacks.

Within the house, the most private spaces, the bedrooms, were placed on the second floor. More public areas like the living room, kitchen, and family room were located on the third floor and the basement, which offered the largest floor area. The living room and kitchen on the third floor gained a terrace, unexpectedly offering views of the city behind the house, a delightful surprise for the owners.

The living room, staircase, corridors, sauna, and windows throughout the house were envisioned as frames for the urban landscape.

Considering the spatial quality within the house, reinforced concrete structural walls were chosen as the primary elements defining the internal spaces. To minimize the finished thickness of these walls, an exposed concrete surface finish was applied. Partial gypsum board ceilings incorporate indirect lighting, adding to the diverse spatial experience. Tiles were selected for the flooring, harmonizing well with the wall finishes, rather than wooden floors. The interior elements are minimal: the finishes of the architecture, lighting, the texture of the furniture, and the outdoor scenery. Because the quality of space, rather than the quality of materials, was paramount for the interior, the design aimed for a simple yet refined image.

The owners had lived in apartments for a long time, their only memory of a detached house being from their childhood with family. As indicated by the land's location and surrounding conditions, the clients' decision to build required courage, and for the architect, it was a challenging project.

The architect requested a sufficient design period due to the numerous conditions to consider during the design process and the need to anticipate and minimize potential variables during construction. Selecting a contractor for such a project is often difficult. The higher the complexity relative to its size, the more hesitant contractors become. Since the contractor must directly confront all anticipated difficulties on-site, a company that could provide trust, rather than simply cost, was crucial, leading to a long period before construction could begin. During construction, complaints from surrounding residents had to be resolved, and unexpected bedrock encountered during excavation after demolishing the old houses, along with various measures to ensure the house's safety, caused inevitable delays.

Ultimately, after overcoming numerous challenging conditions, the house was completed. The clients met us in October 2017, broke ground in October 2018, and moved in by June 2019, marking three years from their initial meeting. Named 'Eos,' this is a house where one can greet the dawn early from a high vantage point, where the panorama of Seoul hangs like a framed painting through its windows.

Mr. Lee and Mrs. Oh built their house this way.