C House

Located in the middle of a green rice field in Korea, the C-shaped house by aoa architects features a central courtyard that becomes integrated with the inner spaces.

The most important thing for the family was to have a protected exterior space where they could enjoy outdoor activities of the rural life with their two young children. The house had to be one and at the same time two because they were supposed to live with their grandparents. The inner space is divided into three areas with their own orientation: the family rooms, the grandparents or the guest area, and the living, dining spaces which connect the previous two.

On the other end of the courtyard that is enclosed by the “C” shaped space stands a wall with a large gate which can protect the outdoor activities from the outside and also welcomes the neighbors when the gate is open. The courtyard in the center of the house becomes integrated with the inner space while changing the impression of the house occasionally as a water playground for children on summer days, a barbecue yard under a moonlit in autumn and a snowy landscape in winter.

The roof, which slopes very low towards the courtyard so to make the top plane visible from the inside, does not only add to the openness of the courtyard but also blurs the boundaries of the inner space and the courtyard, making the house look more spacious than it actually is.