Mosaic

• Architects

When it comes to flats with shop, it is generally considered that a function as a shop is more imfortant than a function as a residence. But, 'Mosaic' is a project where the function as a residence is prioritized rather than the function as a shop.

photo_credit Joonhwan Yoon — Joonhwan Yoon

In the Process of planning the flats with shops, clients (a mother and a son) wanted to have two houses to live together in one building, and they wanted to run an additional small craft shop in the building. But, in modern society, it has been increasingly important to ensure individual lives, even in family relationships. And then, not only has the conversation between parents and children decreased, but the relationship between them is not the same as before. However, interests and relationships between them can't be broken up easily. Therefore, it was important and necessary to find a suitable solution considering this reality regarding housing. And it was to ensure individual lives as much as possible and to relieve the anxiety caused by physical distance between them.

Hide and Reveal

In the process of planning the mother's house and the son's house, the entire space was constructed based on the repetition that the spaces and lives of the two households being hidden or revealed. So, the volume of each houses are harmonized with each other, and it can be revealed individually.

The mosaic tile, and exterior wall material, hints at a growth image from small to large, and is also an experiment with another material and texture of white architecture. And it is a choice to feel the subtle changes in white over time and light.

In 'Mosaic', the mother and the son unite like a mosaic. The building was constructed by seperating the two households and adjusting the concentration of each other's lives, but the mother's house (first and second floors) and the son's house (third and forth floor) became united on the first floor. However, since they enter their houses through different entrances, they can become the family who physically live separated from each other but are psychologically close to each other.