Is a good view necessary in a house? If one’s primary concern is the overall comfort a house provides, indirect lighting can be a decent substitute for a direct view to the outside. The house in Nokbeon-dong(Seoul) chose exactly that - an internal comfort in lieu of a spectacular view. Seated facing a fork in the road, the house became a member of this old bustling town by relinquishing its open yard to the community. It has a skylight which lets in a fair amount of light. A front window between the skylight and a wall helps to safeguard privacy while offering a sense of coziness at the same time. A young architects’ collective, FHHH Friends, seeks to recollect the archetypes of houses that its members grew up in and to reconstitute a fitting lifestyle by way of architecture. With the subtle and indirect form of lighting, they sought to create a mass of light within the house and create a space for true comfort.

This film is part of a series Open House Seoul is presenting for Open House Worldwide's Housing and the People. The series explores two themes. The first is the Elements of House, which delves into the housing culture in Korea and showcases emerging trends. It features two projects that offer alternatives to apartments, the dominant housing type in Korea. The second theme is Rewritten House and features two remodeling projects that not only extend the residual life of old houses but attempt to reconfigure their purpose and utility altogether.