Best Collection Of 87+ Alluring Korean Traditional House Plan Top Choices Of Architects

Koreans have a unique and rich culture due to its long history, and traditional Korean house designs often defy modern minimalism, seeking instead a more ancient aesthetic. The traditional Korean house plan is the Jeongja, or village house, and is often made of wood or earth depending on its location. Highly ornamented and complex in design, traditional Korean houses are composed of several structures, called the Anbang, Daecheong, and Sarangchae, and reflect the Korean traditional craftsmanship and expression of wealth.

The Anbang, or main Hall, usually contains a main room and a kitchen as well as entryway that leads to a separate entrance. The Daecheong is the reception area of the house, and features seating and a low kneeling table—depending on the style, this can be an area of display for artwork and decoration. The Sarangchae was the living space for women in a traditional household, used for entertaining guests and family at teas or informal meals.

As Korea modernizes, the style of Korean house plans and designs has evolved to accommodate the needs of modern families. Often featuring a bold combination of modern and minimalist design elements, combined with traditional Korean architecture, these contemporary styles have become popular in urban dwellings, with traditional elements like the screen door, but modern materials like concrete, metal and glass.

These cleverly designed buildings often focus on light and openness, with natural materials used throughout to create a bright and airy atmosphere. Much of the traditional elements are configured into modern furnishings and fixtures, like a hanok style bed frame combined with a bamboo canopy for an elegant airy space. In some of the most innovative designs, the Anbang is now being reimagined as a swimming pool or a wooden deck for entertaining.

Modern Korean architecture and house plans are often designed with an emphasis on practicality and style. Kit-style homes and multi-story dwellings are particularly popular, utilizing the traditional Korean house plan of an Anbang and Daecheong as a main living and dining area, plus a separate area for the kitchen. Contemporary materials like glass, steel, and concrete are used to define the clean and modern lines of these homes, as often seen in the use of metal panel walls and windows to add a industrial-style flair.

Korean house designs often feature hidden amenities within their designs, like built-in storage areas for shoes and coats, hidden lighting and cubicles for extra sleeping quarters. In newer builds, the Anbang is often used for large outdoor terraces for enjoying the surrounding landscape and creating garden spaces, while other home-owners focus on private sanctuaries like koi ponds, outdoor soaking tubs, and private balconies.

Innovative Korean house designs focus on reimagining traditional house plans to create unique dwellings that embody a modern aesthetic. Many traditional Korean house plans are built around an Anbang, where the main room is typically a multi-purpose space and is often the focal point of the home. Innovative modern designs now put a twist on the traditional Anbang, often with a balcony, additional seating space or outdoor terrace added to the main area—or even a swimming pool.

In other designs, the traditional Sarangchae is repurposed as a home office, guest bedroom, or entertainment space. Even modern Korean exterior design often takes traditional elements like the hanok roof form and adjusts it with contemporary materials, so the home looks modern, yet still retains a traditional feel.

Korean mountain house designs often draw their inspiration from nature, featuring sites, textures, and designs from the surrounding landscape. Korean mountainside dwellings, for example, often faced the sun and opened onto a terrace to better appreciate the natural beauty of the area. Mountain dwellings are often characterized by their use of natural materials, with wood being a popular choice, as well as rough stone, slate, and even straw.

The homes also take advantage of the rugged terrain by offering balconies, terraces, and porches with an open-air feeling, and a strong connection to nature. Other innovative Korean mountain house designs borrow from Greece and other regions, borrowing their curvaceous form and heavily ornamented columns to create a unique resort-style experience.

In recent years, Korean architecture and house plans have taken a more sustainable turn, integrating natural materials, solar technology, water purification systems, and other green design elements. Many of the most innovative Korean house plans are designed around a natural “heart”, which is usually a terrace or outdoor area surrounded by the home itself. This area often represents a connection to nature, and can be used for outdoor activities like yoga, gardening, or simply relaxing.

In other designs, natural materials are used not just for aesthetics, but for their environmental benefits, like natural stone for insulation, and wood for ventilation and heat retention. These sustainable house plans often feature curved roofs, natural stonework, and salvaged wood to create a unique blend of modern and traditional Korean architecture.

Korean village house designs often take on a quiet, rural cottage aesthetic, featuring muted colors and natural and handmade furnishings that are reminiscent of country homes. Like other traditional Korean house plans, the Anbang and Daecheong are still used as the main living and entertainment spaces, with the Sarangchae as a separate area for sitting and lounging. The key difference for this kind of design is the use of more rural materials like straw, rain gutters filled with wildflowers, and wood siding.

In terms of layout, many of the most unique villages house designs often feature a variety of buildings with small but cozy living and bedroom spaces connected by enclosed outdoor walkways, allowing more of the natural elements in. Conversions from old storage spaces, barns, and silos are often turned into cozy living quarters, integrated with modern amenities like small terraces, kitchen islands, and sleeping nooks.

Integrating the old and the new, this style of Korean house design often features a modern twist on traditional Korean architecture and house plans. Traditional elements like hanok roof designs, abang entryways, and daecheong are used in a contemporary setting, often paired with modern materials like concrete, glass, and steel for a unique balance of historic and modern. Local materials are also often reused in these homes, like reclaimed wood, salvaged iron, and terra-cotta roof tiles.

Common features of contemporary traditional house plans are the use of minimalist furniture, open floor plans, and an emphasis on indirect light and airy designs. And in some of the most innovative builds, traditional solar technologies have been used to heat and cool the house, to further it’s sustainable features.

The traditional Korean pagoda house design is often seen as an example of elegant simplicity, featuring an unobstructed four-sided structure with no internal walls. The floors are usually made of wood, while the walls are often covered with white sawdust and bamboo, and supported by an open frame. The home's exterior is usually covered with a grass roof and wooden half-walls, while the interior is filled with earth to create a warm, rustic atmosphere.

These homes may also feature traditional furnishing like bentwood screens and sliding doors, and the interior layout is simply based on the available physical space and the home-owner’s needs. The design’s uncluttered and minimalistic form allows for flexibility and customisable elements, while still retaining a traditional and peaceful feel. Some modern builds on this design often integrate solar panels to create a more sustainable home.

Korean culture and house designs have been heavily influenced by the country’s long history, religion, and martial arts. Traditional buildings are often characterized by their use of curves, large open verandas, and curved stepped roofs in order to direct the eye toward the sky, which is believed to bring good luck. Traditional homes also often feature screens, or shoji, which are made from translucent paper and used to separate rooms and provide for privacy.

Modern Korean house designs often mix and match traditional and modern elements, creating a unique blend of the old and the new. In some instances, traditional Korean craft and materials are revived through innovative and sustainable design, and some of the most contemporary designs often focus on natural materials and indirect sunlight.