Creating a Typology for Urban Religious Spaces Interwoven with Daily Life
Religious Architecture within the Urban Fabric
Won-Buddhism promotes a practical, inclusive spiritual path and embraces coexistence with other religions. The Yeoksam Temple of Won-Buddhism—known as “One Space”—was established through the consolidation of the Apgujeong and Daechi congregations. Rather unconventionally, it is situated at the heart of Yeoksam Station’s vibrant nightlife district, surrounded by bars, eateries, officetels, and motels. This contextually unexpected location aligns with Won-Buddhism’s philosophy of integrating spirituality into the fabric of everyday urban life.
The site is a typical commercial street in Seoul, cluttered with signage and saturated neon lights. The project involved the adaptive reuse and major renovation of a five-story neighborhood living facility, originally built in 2002, to transform it into a religious space.
Spirituality Rooted in Everyday Life
The central question that guided the project was: “What form should an urban religious space take in order to genuinely engage the lives of city dwellers?” This was the primary aspiration expressed by the client. Accordingly, the design goal was twofold: to allow the temple to communicate fluidly with its chaotic urban surroundings while simultaneously offering a tranquil environment conducive to spiritual practice and contemplation.
The constraints of a five-story building with relatively low ceiling heights and a repetitive, stacked floor plan posed challenges in reconciling openness with introspection. The design responded by separating the lower levels—intended for outreach and community interaction—from the upper levels—dedicated to meditation and worship.
Engaging the Community
In pursuit of becoming an approachable and welcoming religious facility, the first floor was carefully programmed with youth-friendly tenants and reconfigured with fully transparent glazing to dissolve the boundary between street and interior. Unlike adjacent buildings that prioritize front-side parking, the forecourt was entirely reimagined as a landscape plaza, enhancing public accessibility. The second floor features a flexible lounge space for community exhibitions and events, visually connected to the ground floor through a central void.
Spiritual Refuge in the Upper Floors
The upper levels were reserved for core religious functions. The fourth floor features a small Dharma hall that acts as an urban sanctuary. Designed for both daily breaks and structured practices such as meditation and yoga, it incorporates traditional Korean architectural elements: sliding Hanji paper doors and a raised wooden platform floor (approximately 120mm), encouraging seated use and introspection. A terrace buffer mediates between the interior and the surrounding city.
Due to structural limitations—including a 3.3m floor-to-floor height and a 700mm deep beam across the ceiling—the existing structure was inadequate for a grand worship space. To accommodate the Main Dharma Hall, the original rooftop was removed, and the fifth floor was reconstructed with a 6.2m ceiling height, maximizing daylight access within allowable zoning limits. Natural light is introduced solely through clerestory windows and a singular circular oculus, emphasizing Won-Buddhism’s symbolic Ilwonsang (circle image), which represents the essence of truth and enlightenment. The motif of the circle is subtly echoed throughout the architectural elements.
The sanctuary’s main wall was deliberately finished with textured spray-coating to enhance the tactile perception of diffused light. This carefully curated lighting creates a solemn and immersive atmosphere appropriate for spiritual practice.
A Smart, Multi-functional Worship Space
To function as a multipurpose venue, the Main Dharma Hall was designed for a range of community events—weddings, lectures, performances—while retaining its liturgical role. Advanced automation was integrated: motorized blinds regulate light through the clerestory and circular windows, and dimmable lighting adjusts ambiance according to ceremonial sequences. The space adapts seamlessly to rituals including meditation, offerings, incense rites, and sermons. Interior elements—including flooring, altar, seating, and donation boxes—were custom-designed in oak to unify the atmosphere with sacred dignity.
An Architecture of Subtle Order
The building envelope is wrapped in a white textile façade composed of 2x2 meter square modules, creating a uniform grid that asserts visual order amid the visual chaos of Yeoksam’s commercial landscape. The semi-transparent fabric provides both spiritual seclusion and gentle permeability, avoiding the opacity typical of religious buildings. The Ilwonsang symbol is positioned at the center of the grid, behind which a circular opening allows daylight to animate the symbol during the day and reveal an inner glow at night, lending the façade a dynamic temporal quality.
Structural Transformation for Public Use
Transforming a building originally intended for rental commercial use into a religious facility required rigorous structural assessment and reinforcement. Core testing and tilt analysis were conducted prior to renovation, followed by comprehensive structural upgrades. The first floor was partially reclaimed from tenant use to create a proper lobby that visually represents the temple’s identity. In addition, the cramped elevator waiting area was expanded by dismantling and reconstructing the stair core—an intensive process that was essential for accessibility and spatial clarity.
Conclusion
“One Space” represents a bold and meaningful attempt by Won-Buddhism to establish a new typology of urban religious architecture that is fully embedded in city life. Both client and architect envisioned a sacred space that is transparent, accessible, and inclusive—a temple where spiritual cultivation occurs not in isolation but in the flow of daily urban rhythms. This project not only revitalizes an existing urban building but also redefines how faith can inhabit the verticality and density of contemporary cityscapes.
