in the south korean city of daejeon, within an existing pre-fab building, lies a workshop designed by starsis for a company that makes baby products out of bamboo fiber. the project, which is titled ‘growing space’, involved the renovation of an original structure to provide the ideal place for manufacturing, packaging and distributing goods. the resulting studio combines traces of the original architecture, rich textures and an abundance of natural light to create a contemporary space that also connects to the past.
all images © hong seokgyu
when approaching the project starsis decided to retain the red brick walls and floors as a nod to the history of the building. the exterior part of the building was made of 190x90x60mm red bricks, and the material is a symbol of modern south korea, as most of the buildings were made of red bricks during the japanese colonial era.
the curved red brick walls invite people in from the street-facing elevation, before extending into the interior. once inside, the bricks divide the volume in half, creating a subtle distinction between the floor levels. the junction between the white surfaces of the upper level and the brick also intends to allow the past and present of the space to peacefully coexist. by leaving part of the original building, a wonderful harmony is created.
besides the dominant red brick, the material palette is also peppered with elements of bamboo and greenery. the bamboo sculptures were made from discarded material thrown away in the front yard. these upcycled pendants work to emphasize the height of the space, which reaches 8 meters, while also reflecting the nature of the company.
project info:
project name: growing space
architect: starsis
designer: park hyunhee
location: 36, seongsan-ro 14beon-gil, jung-gu, daejeon, south korea
building area: 4650 ft2 (432 m2)
total site area: 8501 ft2 (789.74 m2)
construction: starsis
project year: 2019
photography: hong seokgyu
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: lynne myers | designboom
