Corallo by Josun Hotel – ALIVEUS Architecture’s Bold Grid Design in Yangyang, South Korea

Located in Yangyang-gun, South Korea, Corallo by Josun Hotel is a striking architectural project designed by ALIVEUS architecture. Completed in 2023, the hotel spans 5,339 m² and redefines the coastal town’s evolving identity. Blending exposed concrete with precise grid compositions, Corallo brings a new sense of vitality to a region that has rapidly transformed into a surfing destination.

Architectural Context

When traveling along the Donghae Highway between Gangneung and Yangyang, visitors are greeted by a series of buildings marked with grid-like façades. This rhythmic architectural language has become part of the local landscape as surfers and travelers increasingly gather in this once-quiet village.

Corallo responds to this transformation by offering a concise and structured design. The hotel not only enhances the town’s urban identity but also contributes to the revitalization of the local community through its bold yet organized aesthetic.

Design Concept – The Rhythm of Grids

While Brutalism has long influenced modern architecture with its focus on raw materials and structural honesty, Corallo takes a more refined approach. Rather than focusing on heaviness or monumentality, ALIVEUS architecture employed a clean grid system of lines and surfaces to form the façade.

The result is a building that may appear minimal at first glance but reveals depth and rhythm through subtle variations in proportion and texture. These carefully calculated shifts in scale and finish required significant attention during the design and construction phases, ensuring that simplicity was balanced with precision.

Material Expression – Exposed Concrete with Pine Patterns

Over a five-year design and construction process, ALIVEUS and its collaborators invested time in testing and refining the hotel’s material palette. The decision to use exposed concrete allowed the building to maintain its structural clarity while highlighting texture and craftsmanship.

Special attention was given to the pine-patterned concrete surfaces, where patterns were repeatedly adjusted in size and depth until the desired visual effect was achieved. This attention to detail created façades that change character depending on the angle of view, offering guests two distinct architectural experiences from different perspectives.

Interior Design – A Play of Contrast

The interior design, led by Long Story Short, creates a vivid counterpoint to the restrained architectural exterior. While the façade emphasizes concrete, grids, and natural surfaces, the interiors of the lobby and restaurant introduce red tones, reflective finishes, and vibrant materials.

This contrast creates a memorable and immersive guest experience, balancing architectural discipline with sensory richness. Bedrooms and common spaces are designed to frame views of the sea, reflecting the hotel’s identity as a coastal retreat that serves both locals and international travelers.

Collaboration and Execution

Corallo was realized through close collaboration between ALIVEUS architecture, Long Story Short, the client, and the construction company Samwoo Construction. Project management was overseen by REPUBLIC 1, ensuring that each phase was carefully coordinated.

The design process was not about quick solutions but about iterative exploration—repeatedly testing proportions, materials, and surface treatments until a cohesive and timeless result was achieved.

Corallo by Josun Hotel stands as an architectural landmark in Yangyang, blending grid-based modernism, material honesty, and interior vibrancy. It reflects the evolving identity of a coastal town shaped by surfing culture while offering guests a unique hospitality experience rooted in design precision.

By merging minimalism with bold material experimentation, ALIVEUS architecture has created a project that goes beyond function—serving as a cultural statement and community anchor in South Korea’s eastern coastline.

All Photographs are works of archi_leben