In the heart of Seoul, a small monolith with a finely chiseled dark concrete surface subtly disrupts the rhythm of the street façade in a district of townhouses and villas. The architecture of this building, Pyrite—a private residence with ancillary spaces—owes its unusual appeal to a design strategy that emphasizes the massing of interlocking forms, generated through the twisting of the upper volume to capture different views, set much like the cuboid formation of its crystal namesake.
Split vertically into two, the architecture of the building reserves its larger section for its owner and his family, serving as a personal residence and home office accessed through a private elevator and staircase. The adjoining section and part of the basement accommodate a few smaller units and an artist studio, which are leased to various friends. All residents can enjoy the shared subterranean basketball court and atelier.
The spatial configuration of each floor reinforces the similarity to the pyrite crystal geometry that inspires the design, interlocking the owner’s private quarters with a different unit on each level. This dynamic planar order, visible in the building volume and set back on the first floor, allows for precious private gardens blending with the living spaces. In close proximity to Hakdong Park, Pyrite’s hedonistic roof terrace offers dramatic views of Seoul’s metropolitan skyline, providing a safe haven from the city’s bustling life.
Team:
design architect: nabil gholam architects
architect of record: Lieux Architects
photography: Sun Namgoong
