대한민국의 전통주택인 한옥에서 구들(온돌)은 다른 요소들 보다 큰 비중을 차지한다. 최근 들어 한류의 영향과 전통에 대한 재발견으로 한옥의 수요가 급증하고 있다. 이러한 시점에서 본 논문은 구들시공기술의 발달과정을 추적하여 용어의 정의와 구들의 종류변화등을 고찰하였고 향후 구들시공기술의 전망을 논하였다.

Gudeul is traditional heating system of Korea that contains the much wisdom of Korean ancestors. It is a radiating heating system with a solid heat source. Recently, there has been a preference to Huangto and traditional gudeul heating in lawn houses, environment friendly house, healthy houses, and eco-houses. There is a reemphasis on the uniquely Korean traditional gudeul heating technique. Past researches have been on gudeul structure, terminology, development, and research on the efficiency of traditional gudeul has been continuously conducted. The gudeul has many parts and these parts work in close association with each other in order to successfully function as a heating system. The slightest bit of disassociation can lead to the decrease in efficiency or failure. Therefore there is a need find an exacting formula for the relationships between the parts. Therefore, an exacting survey on the sizes of gudeul need to conducted on traditional gudeul in order to preserve and develop traditional gudeul. However, there are very few surveys conducted on traditional gudeul in Designated Treasures and newly excavated sites and most of studies are conducted based on literature. In contrast to previous researches, this is an actual survey and research of the hamsil gudeul found in Mucheomdang, which it Designated Treasure No. 411.This survey was conducted by dismantling and restoring the gudeul in Mucheomdang. It was found that the goraejaejari was about 15~20cm smaller than the usual and though there was no gultukgaejari the agunggi was placed lower so that the fire went in easily, inline with the heat principle. In order to maintain and further develop traditional gudeul, gudeul survey and actual measurements must be taken at excavation sites and whenever there are restoration processes taking place in designated treasure. It is suggested that gudeul professional be included in this process because without their input it is easy to miss important aspects. If professionals are not included there is a great chance the cultural value of gudeul maybe lost forever in the near future. Gudeul is layed differently by function and region, therefore there is no one gudeul that is exactly the same, therefore, it is suggested that national, state and city government, whenever restoring or dismantling a Designated Treasure, call upon a gudeul professional. Furthermore, more traditional gudeul should be dismantled and actual measurements and surveys should be taken to collect more exacting data.

Recently there have been an increased number of people seeking to live with nature away from the polluted city. In reaction to this phenomenon there has been more an increase in interest of green sustainable architecture. Along with the interest in green sustainable architecture, there have been people who have taken interest in finding the origins of the green sustainable lifestyle, thus leading to the interest of Korean traditional architecture and its culture. This has fueled the interest and efforts in developing and restoring the traditional architecture. The interest in traditional architecture has lead to the interest in traditional ondol, which is one of the axis to Korean traditional architecture. The traditional environment friendly methods and the various green building systems have been interpreted from a modern point of view and experimented with. Therefore a variety of heating methods have been tried in preparation to the cold winter. One of those heating methods is Korea’s traditional gudeul, and through the interest of people on the gudeul a variety of gudeul has been constructed. Furthermore, educational facilities have been established to further develop, succeed and spread traditional gudeul. However, because the focus of these facilities is in the technology and preservation, it has lost focus on the traditional lifestyle. Without the understanding of traditional lifestyle, the gudeul is worthless and an uncomfortable facility. In order to truly spread the use of gudeul, the traditional lifestyle must be investigated and understood. The Korean people by laying and living on the gudeul have developed a guduel culture. Gudeul has influenced the clothing, food, and shelter, thus all aspects of life. It is a culture first then a heating method. It shines light upon the wisdom of Korean ancestors. Therefore people should not only be trained on the techniques of laying gudeul but the culture, proper maintenance and use.

구들방에서 불 때기는 대단히 중요하다. 불을 땔 때 내굴이 되기도 하고, 방으로 연기가 나오기도 한다. 불이 잘 들어가고 굴뚝으로 연기가 잘 나가면 구들 잘 놓았다고 한다. 그래서 고래를 깊게 하고 아궁이를 크게 해서 구들을 놓게 된다. 이런 경우 대부분 굴뚝으로 나가는 연기가 열을 많이 가지고 있으 므로 연료가 많이 들어가게 된다. 잘 놓은 구들의 경우, 아궁이에서 완전 연소가 되고 굴뚝으로 나가는 연기는 대부분의 열을 고래에 남겨두어서 차가워져서 무거워진다. 지붕 위로 솟은 높은 굴뚝으로는 연기가 올라가지 못하게 되어야 열을 충분히 사용하게 되는 것이다. 열 손실을 줄여서 연료를 적게 들게 하여야 경제적인 난방시스템이 되는 것이다. 불을 때는 방법에 따라 열 손실은 차이가 많이 난다. 내굴은 굴뚝으로 부는 바람의 방향과 세기에 따라 일어나는 현상이기도 하고, 고래의 상태와 굴뚝의 상태가 더 큰 영향이 있을 것으로도 생각된다. 방바닥이 갈라져서 방안으로 연기가 들어오기도 하고, 불완전 연소로 고래에 꽉찬 연기가 굴뚝으로 나가는 시간 차이로 일어나는 것으로도 생각된다. 고래가 완전히 식은 상태에서는 연료를 잔뜩 쌓아놓고 불을 때면 내굴이 생긴다. 조금씩 천천히 불을 때면 아궁이가 데워지고 고래가 서서히 달구어져서 내굴이 생기지 않는다. 따라서 구들방의 크기에 따라 고래의 깊이와 아궁이의 규모, 굴뚝의 크기와 높이가 결정되어야한다. 불 때는 습관의 차이도 연료 손실과 열효율에 큰 영향을 미치게 된다. 이런 모든 사항을 연구하여 하나씩 정리해야 한다.