This study compares St. Nicholas' Orthodox Church in Seoul (1968) and St. Dionysios' Orthodox Church in Ulsan (2005), which are Byzantine-style churches under the Korean Orthodox Church, with Hagiya Sophia in Istanbul, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Focusing on the construction method and shape of the dome, which is a major characteristic of Byzantine architecture, this study compares the architectural background of these three churches, the presence and shape of the dome, the presence of drums, and the number and shape of skylights. As a result, it was found that these three churches differ in the construction method of the dome due to differences in different architectural backgrounds and structural methods, and that these structural and morphological differences ultimately determine the atmosphere of the interior space of the cathedral. This study examines two representative Byzantine Orthodox churches in Korea, both designed by the same architect, Zho Chang Han (b. 1936), with a time gap of approximately 40 years between them. It holds particular significance in exploring how the Byzantine dome was constructed differently by analyzing the historical context and structural characteristics of the Orthodox Church.
This study examines the design intent and the construction background of the UNESCO House in Korea planned in the 1950s, with a focus on the initial plans of the House by Kuzosa Architects & Engineers in 1959. To this day, the House has been evaluated as a representative example of an office building in the 1960s, and an early case of introducing curtain walls in Korea. However, only its technical characteristics have been explored with less emphasis on further research data. This study attempts to demonstrate the social and cultural expectations and the demands of the construction of the House by examining the documents produced at the time and the initial plan. This study also highlights the fact that the House was the first project of the architect Pai Ki Hyung to realize high-rise reinforced concrete construction in Seoul’s dense center. In the 1950s, the House was planned as a modern building with a complex of various cultural facilities and offices due to the character of activities of the Commission, and the lack of public cultural facilities in Korea. The plan of the Kuzosa Architects & Engineers was selected through a design competition held in 1959. The House was completed in 1967, which took about eight years from planning to completion with design modification in the 1960s. The initial plan submitted before the design modification shows that Pai used the vocabulary and logic of modern architecture and planned the House not as a simple office building but as a complex cultural facility.
This study examines the Gyeongju Seokguram Grotto restoration project (1961-1962) by architect Kim Chung Up (1922-1988) and introduces the documents he wrote at the time of planning. The study highlights Kim’s Plan attempt to adopt Buckminster Fuller’s idea of the Geodesic Dome, while inheriting the architect Pai Ki Hyung’s previous design plan which was nullified. As Seokguram Grotto’s water leak and deterioration issues have been brought up, the four-times survey was carried out by experts team between 1958 and 1960, under Ministry of Education’s direction. Pai designed an initial restoration plan based on the survey’s result, which was a double-dome structure with a concrete film on the outer periphery as a way to protect Seokguram Grotto in January 1961. However, as drawbacks, such as the heavy load of the concrete dome, and non-installation of entrance hall, have been indicated in the review process, the Cultural Properties Committee rejected the plan. Subsequently, Kim was appointed as the supervisor of the second restoration project. Kim drew up a process management schedule to be implemented from August 1961 to December 1963 and designed the conception plans for the second restoration design. This study analyzes Kim’s Plan by examining sketches, site plans, floor plans, and sections. Kim planned to maintain the idea of the double-dome structure proposed by Pai while applying Buckminster Fuller’s idea of the Geodesic Dome. Kim planned to lighten the dome structure by applying a steel-frame Geodesic Dome so that the dome structure could be supported by its own. The study is expected to reclaim the omitted parts from Seokguram Grotto's historical description and Kim's careers.
This study explores the application aspect of The detailed rules of Census (1896) through the change of Kan numbers in Gyeonpyeong-bang. Although Gyeonpyeong-bang was a high-priority area because of its location, it was difficult to trace the operation of the urban situation due to lack of data. This study is focusing on restoring space and society in the Gyeonpyeong-bang using the information on the type of houses and the number of Kan listed in the family register of Hanseong-bu. The detailed rules of Census sets out provisions for the family registry and the rules of making Tong. Especially when it comes to the rules of making Tong, this rule deals with the code of making ten Hos into one Tong. This study was conducted by dividing the status of the Tong into three types: uncompleted Tong, exceeded Tong without vacant Ho number, and exceeded Tong with the vacant Ho number. Since these three types of Tong are in the process of change towards the complete Tong with 10 Hos, they were thought to be able to demonstrate the specific application of the rules. This study will be meaningful as a case study that expands the point of existing research on the Tong making rules, which was not focused relatively on restoring urban conditions at that time, by looking at the changes in exceptions that deviated from the Sipgajaktong rule.