Embracing Natural Light and Historical Design
Sunlight floods one side of this 1,800-square-foot Moscow apartment, guiding designer Inga Kordya’s approach to the living room. Custom shutter doors, crafted from tinted oak, mirror traditional Korean design with their proportions and eight-petal flower brass handles. When closed, these doors break harsh sunlight into soft patterns on the floor, emulating the changhoji paper tradition found in hanok homes, where light is effortlessly diffused.
Learning from Korean Heritage
Kordya’s inspiration came during her visits to Bukchon and Namsangol, historic South Korean districts filled with 14th-century architecture. This Moscow home, intended for a Korean family with two daughters, captures the hanok spirit miles away from Seoul’s embrace.
Modern Materials with Timeless Functionality
Rimadesio sliding doors in the apartment borrow hanok principles, replacing traditional paper with industrial matte glass, while vertical mullions mimic lattice structures. This integration maintains a visual link between the living room and central hall, mirroring the flexibility of traditional paper screens.
Dynamic Living Spaces
The apartment features three bedrooms and bathrooms centered around a light-absorbing hall, akin to a hanok’s madang courtyard. The daughters’ shared partition allows their rooms to combine into a play space, reflecting hanok interiors’ fluidity, where spaces adapt throughout the day.
For more ideas on adaptable spaces, explore how Berlin’s Modular Sander Seating Island transforms interiors with innovative flexibility.
Materials that Reflect a Philosophy
Materials were chosen for their texture and reflectance. Marble, granite, wood, brass, and more present a palette defined by subtlety rather than color. The central hall is adorned with large ceramic tiles and a Japanese woodblock print on handmade paper sourced in the Netherlands. The main bathroom’s deep gray tones and the bedroom’s adjustable brass sconces all echo the serene adaptability seen in traditional hanok designs.
For a deeper dive into strategic use of materials, see how Shenzhen Museum blends seamlessly into its landscape through revolutionary design approaches.
Translating Tradition into Modernity
Rather than mimicking the façade of Korean architecture, Kordya has woven its core principles—light filtering, flexible space boundaries, and room adaptability—into a modern design narrative. This home bridges miles and eras, honoring its inspirations while standing firmly in the present.
Sources & Links
Source: design-milk.com
Frequently asked questions
How does Inga Kordya utilize sunlight in the apartment?
Sunlight floods one side of the apartment and is diffused by custom shutter doors crafted from tinted oak, breaking the harsh sunlight into soft patterns that emulate the changhoji paper tradition found in hanok homes.
What inspired Inga Kordya’s design approach in Moscow?
Inga Kordya’s design approach was inspired by her visits to Bukchon and Namsangol, historic South Korean districts filled with 14th-century architecture, which informed her infusion of hanok spirit into the Moscow apartment.
What is the function of Rimadesio sliding doors in the design?
Rimadesio sliding doors borrow hanok principles by replacing traditional paper with industrial matte glass, while vertical mullions mimic lattice structures, maintaining a visual connection between the living room and central hall, similar to traditional paper screens.