THE SETTLEMENTS BESTOWED BY THE SEA

The core of this design lies in responding to the essence of daily life within the settlement, translating the "Haenyeo" (sea women) gathering culture into a spatial language. Addressing the disconnect between traditional stone house preservation and cultural interpretation, our intervention reshapes the space into a dynamic bridge connecting local residents with visitors.

In practice, the original stone structures are fully preserved. By employing a traditional vocabulary of stone walls, timber frames, and roof tiles, the architecture itself becomes a readable historical narrative. The interior curation reconstructs the intertidal ecology, harmonizing with outdoor agar-drying fields and craft workshops to transform routine harvesting into an immersive cultural experience. Furthermore, a new subterranean gallery integrates a vertical water wall and skylights, channeling natural light to dissolve enclosure and create a multi-layered spatial journey.

This design not only fulfills the visions of sustainable communities and marine conservation but also revitalizes the local economy. It invites visitors to step into the rhythmic pulse of the settlement amidst the interplay of light and landscape, deeply connecting with the vitality bestowed by the sea.