Bow-wow House is a dog-friendly guesthouse in South Korea

A South Korean family looking to escape a “vicious circle of debt” caused by Seoul’s high rents has found respite in the Bow-wow House, a dog-friendly guesthouse and residence near a seaside town in rural South Korea.

Designed by Seoul firm Design Band YOAP, the timber-framed structure serves as the new home for the clients as well as a guesthouse for travelers and their dogs.

The clients’ site is located on a hillside above the town of Sowon-myeon Padori in Chungcheongnam Province. The architects mitigated the slope by dividing the building onto two different levels built atop stone retaining walls. The guesthouse, which contains four separate units, a shared kitchen, and outdoor terrace, is located on the lower level and opens out onto a large grassy and fenced-in yard. The private residence is set higher up on the slope for privacy and to minimize noise pollution. The residence features a kinked floorplan, with the living areas for the clients in one wing and a small annex for the client’s mother in the other wing. An outdoor courtyard built partially on the guesthouse roof connects the two wings.

Bow-wow House’s facade comprises asphalt shingles and cement siding panels painted black. The interior is minimalist but homey, with white walls, wood surfaces, and dog motifs scattered throughout. The guesthouse was built with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the grass yard and every room has direct access to the yard. The rooms are finished with tiles and laminated flooring to facilitate easy cleanup.