Rest Hole in the University of Seoul, design is all about improving existing spaces. In this particular case, the first floor of the dormitory in University of Seoul used to be an empty parking lot, with almost no aesthetic appeal. Dark and with large, heavy columns, the space becomes a place only for smoking and parking bikes.
Courtesy of UTAA
In order to bring a more human appeal to the space, the architecture students from the University, in collaboration with UTAA created a solution that would completely change the space and transform it into a pleasant resting space.
© Kim Yong-soon
The design consists in wooden, curved panels that cover the columns and blend with the wooden sitting areas. The arches create an unexpected visual component for the almost industrial building, and a series of overlapping lights and shadows, which enrich the space.
Project info:
Architects: UTAA
Country: South Korea, Seoul
Area: 180 m²
Year: 2012
Photographs: Jin Hyo-suk, Kim Yong-soon
Lidia Ratoi is a Romanian architect, educator, and researcher, currently serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Architecture. With a background in both architectural design and theory, her work explores the intersections of technology, media, and politics in the built environment. Ratoi’s research focuses on the aesthetics of power, surveillance, and virtuality, with a strong interest in critical and speculative design. She has practiced internationally and exhibited in venues across Europe and Asia. Passionate about challenging conventional narratives, Ratoi integrates digital tools with philosophical inquiry, encouraging experimental approaches to architecture. Her contributions continue to shape emerging discourses in design and architectural pedagogy.