Framed by Nature: A Hidden Home in the Hills of Namyangju

The Namyangju Detached House
Architects: SMxL Architects
Area: 131 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Hanbit Kim
Lead Architect: Sangmin Lee
Structural Engineers: ARCHFEEL Structure Engineering
Construction: SMxL Construction, Dongyong Kim
Civil Engineers: Hwa-do Survey Engineering
City: Namyangju-si
Country: South Korea

The Namyangju Detached House by SMxL Architects is a 131-square-meter home in Namyangju, South Korea, designed for a newlywed couple seeking a peaceful retreat surrounded by mountains and dense forest. Balancing the owners’ wish for a single-story layout with three bedrooms and a private rooftop yard, the architects created a clever split-level design featuring two bedrooms on the ground floor, an attic bedroom under a gabled roof, and a rooftop courtyard above the main bedroom. The home is organized into distinct public and private indoor and outdoor zones, blending open, airy interiors with intimate outdoor spaces. Large windows, folding doors, and framed views connect the living areas to the changing seasonal landscape, offering both privacy and a strong sense of connection to nature.