Pencil House by Architecture Studio YEIN – A Thoughtful Transformation of an Urban Office into a Warm, Minimalist Home

Pencil House, designed by Architecture Studio YEIN, is a remarkable residential transformation located in Gangneung, South Korea. Completed in 2024, this 137 m² project reimagines a former office building—once rigid and static—into a welcoming, contemporary home for a couple seeking comfort, warmth, and thoughtful design within an urban environment.

Situated just behind a commercial corridor near Gangneung City Hall and the Gangneung Bus Terminal, the house benefits from a rare northwest opening that frames beautiful views toward the Daegwallyeong Pass. Although the building is not oriented toward the south, the designers embraced its natural strengths, transforming its shortcomings into architectural opportunities.

From Office to Home: A Smart and Sustainable Conversion

After a decade of use, the original office began suffering from insulation issues, cramped interiors, and outdated performance. Rather than demolish or reconstruct, the owners chose a more sustainable approach: relocate the office elsewhere and remodel the existing structure into a home.

YEIN made minimal structural changes, preserving the building’s core while ensuring it met updated Korean building regulations. This included:

• Upgrading to non-combustible exterior finishes
• Installing fireproof windows
• Enhancing insulation with a new external layer
• Adding insulation to the ground-floor piloti ceiling
• Reusing the existing roof finish to reduce costs
• Applying Rehau system windows for improved thermal performance

The result is a delightful transformation. Once a raw, exposed-concrete office, the building now presents itself as a charming volume with a white stucco exterior and a yellowish-green sloping roof—earning the playful nickname Pencil House, resembling a pencil that has been sharpened down with use.

Spatial Planning: Simple Origins, Elegant New Life

The original office layout was utilitarian—exhibition area on level one, office space on the second floor, and a small staff lounge above. YEIN reconfigured each floor to serve a warm and functional residential lifestyle:

Ground Floor – A Social and Welcoming Kitchen

A new vestibule was added to enhance residential entry, while maintaining the existing parking lot for two vehicles. What was once an exhibition zone is now a full kitchen and dining area, designed to greet guests immediately with comfort and hospitality.

Second Floor – Spacious and Light-Filled Living

All office partitions were removed to create a large, open living room. Service spaces were reimagined into:

• A shower room
• A powder room
• A separate laundry room

The result is a functional and uncluttered floor that serves daily living needs.

Third Floor – Cozy Private Retreat

The third floor, originally a staff resting space, has been transformed into a serene bedroom for the couple. The sloping, pointed ceiling was preserved, giving the room a warm, attic-like ambiance. The double-height connection from the first to the third floor enhances the sense of vertical openness.

A Subtle Yet Powerful Architectural Gesture

Pencil House is a beautiful example of how adaptive reuse can bring new life to underutilized buildings in dense urban areas. With minimal intervention, Architecture Studio YEIN has created a home that is:

• Sustainable
• Compact but spacious
• Minimalist yet warm
• Functional without sacrificing personality

Every design decision—from insulation upgrades to spatial reconfiguration—was oriented toward comfort, long-term livability, and transforming constraints into creative advantages.

All the photographs are works of Joon Hwan, Yoon