circular skylight pierces surfers' weekend house on south korean seafront

Surf House stands on Jukdo beach surrounded by mountains

Architectural design studio DRAWING WORKS forms a single-family weekend house in the surfing area of Yangyang in South Korea. Located on Jukdo beach, the site is surrounded by bamboo plants and a dense forest that covers the neighboring mountains. Various pubs, shops, and cafes can be found in the region, with activities around surfing culture serving as the main attraction. With surfers building small homes convenient for short vacation trips by the ocean, weekend surf houses have transformed the city’s landscape.

In the case of buildings located near the ocean, salinity is taken into consideration during the construction process due to their geographical nature. The design team selects concrete as the main mono material exposing its applied texture throughout the structure along with other finishing materials with strong durability and easy maintenance such as rocks, and aluminum to retain the framework intact.

all images by Yoon Joonhwan

rough concrete facade resembles sea waves

The structure shapes two levels in concrete volume forming a facade of mono material. The texture utilizes mold for civil construction to create vertical lines of 20 mm triangular sectioned dents throughout the exterior resembling the sea waves. Embracing the inevitable trace that the natural environment leaves on the structure in a nonabrasive manner, the building applies the rugged pattern on the surfaces. The rough composition designs diverse fronts that transform during the day based on the light and shadow variations.

The residence covers only part of the site, with most of its plot given over to open air spaces due to the preserved natural green area regulations. Following this principle, the design group arranges three outdoor lots, the entrance patio, the courtyard, and the ‘inner garden’ inducing an extension of the surrounding environment within the property. The two-story building consists of the main home, a second living unit, and a guesthouse, assembling the kitchen and guest room on the first floor, while the master bedroom is positioned on the upper level. Intended for temporary accommodation, the rooms satisfy minimal functions for short stays by the sea.

the building applies a rugged pattern on the external concrete surfaces

finishing materials with strong durability such as rocks, and aluminum retain the framework intact

a circular sky casement allows natural light and air to spread throughout the lower level

from above, the skylight forms a playful balcony on the outdoor terrace

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the kitchen opens up toward the sunny courtyard

the weekend house's bedroom puts up a large glass window

rough concrete facade wraps the two-story building

all three faces of the construction are surrounded by the mountain

project info:

name: Surf House
designer: DRAWING WORKS | @drawingworks_architects

lead designer: Kim Youngbae

team: Kim Youngbae, Jeonghwan Lee, Hyunsong Lee

location: Duri, Hyunnammeyn, Yangyang, Kangwondo, Korea

photography: Yoon Joonhwan

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: christina vergopoulou | designboom