Korean Architecture by Jackson Ben; Koehler Robert; Jin-Hyuk Lee

Author:Jackson, Ben; Koehler, Robert; Jin-Hyuk, Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Seoul Selection
Published: 2015-09-13T16:00:00+00:00

Stone

Wooden columns rested upon wider foundation stones known as juchutdol. These were usually made of granite and categorized in terms of value and suitability according to provenance. Stone from places such as Pocheon, Gapyeong, Hwangdeung, and Geochang was well-regarded, with Ganghwa aeseok (said to be named for the way its color resembled mugwort) among the most popular of all for its color and grain.

Earth and Plaster

Walls were applied in several layers, starting with a mixture of clay, water, and straw (the latter to prevent structural integrity) and followed by one or more outer layers mixed from various clays, sand, and lime or loam. Lime, produced by burning limestone, was an important building material due to its strong adhesive properties.

Tiles

Tiled roofs are often the most visible part of Korean traditional buildings, to the extent that the word hanok actually means “Korean roof.” After apparently arriving in Korea in around 200–100 BC, roof tiles reached a peak of ornate excellence during Unified Silla. They are made by baking sheets of clay wrapped around round molds at around 800–1000°C. Kilns were wood-fueled, round, elongated tunnels, half-buried in the ground. On traditional tiled roofs, concave “female” and round “male” tiles are arranged in alternate, interlocking furrows and ridges running down from the roofline to the eaves. Other tiles are used to cap the ends of roof ridges and tile rows.

Thatch

It must be remembered that the majority of Koreans in premodern times could not afford tiled roofs and instead used rice straw for thatching. Several bundles of straw were spread across the roof, and then held down by a grid-like net of rice straw rope that was tied or weighed down on top of the thatch. Such roofs were vulnerable to damage from wind, rain and fire—some historical accounts claim that they were replaced on an annual basis, making their long-term costs similar to that of the longer-lasting tile roofs. One advantage of straw thatch was that it was far lighter than tiles, allowing the use of thinner timber in supporting structures. Millet straw, reeds, and other grasses and grain stems were sometimes used.

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