Flexible Building and Construction Systems in Traditional Korean Architecture

Unlike the building forms, technology, and materials of today, the traditional Korean architecture represents an example of flexible building forms in history. Investigating and studying this type of architecture not only can contribute to the reform of architectural history by understanding how ordinary buildings change over time and how they interact with people but also may suggest the possibility of, and methodology for developing long-lasting and sustainable mass housing in Korea and in Asian cities. The first part of the paper demonstrates the structural, spatial, and functional flexibilities of traditional Korean architecture. The second part investigates the construction system, including the organization of builders and the regulations governing the relationship with the residents. Its systematic construction approach is associated with the specialization of construction and standardization and prefabrication of elements, facilitating the easy replacement and reuse of building materials. The paper is based on a research methodology of integrating historical archives and case studies. The main argument posited here is that knowledge and skill of traditional construction of flexibility suggest conceptual strategies to improve current housing design and construction in order to obtain a sustainable future.