The design team presented details about the YP Building, located at 1697-38 Seocho-dong, Seoul. This building is situated in a transitional area, bordering an existing apartment complex to the east and a narrow four-meter-wide street. There are future plans to widen this street as part of a zoning project linked to the reconstruction of the neighboring residential development.
The lot was located at the junction between a low-density commercial network and a residential area undergoing restructuring, demanding a spatial organization that could flexibly adapt to constant changes in the urban environment.
The overall configuration of the building was determined by setback regulations necessary to ensure natural lighting, resulting in a stepped volume. However, the project did not view this rule as a mere impediment but rather reinterpreted it as an element of architectural language. The recessed mass was converted into a grid system on the facade, visually unifying the different volumes into a cohesive whole.
This grid serves to reduce the feeling of visual fragmentation common in buildings with setbacks, allowing the structure to be viewed from the street as a uniform modular composition. In addition to its formal aspect, the grid defines rhythm and proportion, also acting as a neutral envelope capable of housing the diverse needs of the tenants.
The exterior cladding uses rectangular stone panels arranged to accentuate the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the grid. Small variations in depth and shadow add richness to the facade while maintaining a discreet architectural appearance. On the lower floors, the use of dark gray stucco and transparent glass differentiates the base from the stone upper body, reinforcing accessibility and interaction at the pedestrian scale.
Due to the slope of the street along the site, there is a natural level variation between the north and south sides. On the south side, the building facilitates direct vehicle access to the underground parking, following the natural slope of the terrain. On the north side, the ground floor connects directly to the main lobby and commercial entrance.
A self-sustaining wall near the entrance conceals external mechanical equipment and simultaneously functions as a signage point for each tenant, integrating practical functions into a harmonious urban component. The internal planning prioritized reducing structural columns to optimize flexibility and functionality for occupants.
An extra rentable level was inserted below the parking garage, where an English courtyard (sunken courtyard) on the west side introduces natural light into the basement, mitigating the typical characteristics of underground environments. Each floor has direct access to its respective balcony, increasing usable area and creating various spatial relationships between interiors and exteriors. The top floor is designated for the building's own property, offering a more private space that balances work and rest.
The YP Building demonstrates how restrictions imposed by regulations can be transformed into an integrated architectural system, allowing form, structure, and facade to emerge from a single, coherent logic. Instead of manifesting through obvious formal gestures, the building adopts a restrained language, marked by order, proportion, and continuity, enabling its organic integration into the daily urban fabric while ensuring its long-term adaptability.
