The Morning Calm Arboretum, located on the slopes of Chukryeong Mountain in Henghyeon-ri, Gapyeong County, is said to have been carefully selected and created by a professor specializing in horticulture. Over the years, the professor has traveled throughout the country with a strong desire to promote the beauty of Korean traditional gardens. The arboretum showcases the essence of Korean tradition and aims to be widely known.
Since the opening of our office, I have been working on various small and medium sized accommodations for the past eight years, starting with our first pension project. Throughout this time, I have always strived to explore new paradigms that go beyond the traditional forms of accommodations. One of the ongoing challenges in our projects is to plan and consider the demands of different target groups such as the MZ generation (Millennials and Generation Z), young families with young children, seniors, middle-aged individuals, and groups, while incorporating activities, culture, healing, and services that can be integrated with the accommodation experience.
This particular project is situated in a slightly elevated location, allowing a view overlooking the Morning Calm Arboretum. It combines accommodations, a cafe, and recreational facilities, designed as a space for young couples with children to relax. The underground floor consists of a party room and a reception area. On the first floor, there is a large hall that includes facilities for children, a cafe space, and individual barbecue areas. The layout of the floor plan forms a "ㄷ" shape, creating a central space for children to play. For the second floor, a flexible layout was considered, where 17 rooms can function independently or be combined together.
The intention was to propose a new paradigm for accommodations by combining the advantages of various facilities commonly found in large hotels or resorts, such as restaurants, cafes, children's play areas, and outdoor swimming pool facilities, with the addition of individual barbecue areas typically seen in small to medium sized accommodations. By directly connecting these amenities, the aim was to create a unique accommodation experience that brings together the best of both worlds.
The solid and rugged materiality of exposed concrete, combined with the repetitive arch pattern, has been used to create a unique external space. The view, starting from the central space and passing through a small garden, allows guests to linger and appreciate the exceptional scenery of Chukryeong Mountain, embracing the Morning Calm Arboretum. It provides users with a momentary escape, allowing them to have a contemplative time.
This project is a result of our in house development initiative, and it required careful consideration and multiple iterations to establish the concept. Throughout the process, we are deeply grateful to our hardworking staff who persevered, as well as to Mr. Hong Tae-Jung, the CEO of T&J, who served as both a mentor in life and a co-investor, providing valuable ideas. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Hong Tae-Jung and all other individuals involved in this project.
