JYA Home by JYA-RCHITECTS: A Thoughtful Office Renovation Rooted in Community and Context

A Personal Journey Toward a Permanent Home

JYA Home, designed by Seoul-based JYA-RCHITECTS, is more than an architectural renovation—it’s a deeply personal project shaped by the studio’s years of transience and a desire to find a lasting, meaningful base. Following multiple relocations due to affordability and space constraints, the team set out to create a stable workspace in Seoul that also felt like home.

Inspired by serene work environments abroad, particularly a former office in Amsterdam overlooking the canal, the architects envisioned a similarly nature-connected, community-rooted office space in Korea. After much exploration along Seoul’s rivers—Bulgwang-cheon and Hongje-cheon—a site was found just minutes from the latter. While the site didn’t offer direct water views, it sat within a short walk from the riverbank, maintaining the project's connection to nature.

Renovation Over Demolition: A Sustainable Architectural Choice

The existing building was over 40 years old and in disrepair, but instead of opting for demolition and new construction, JYA-RCHITECTS embraced the principles of adaptive reuse. Their decision was driven by two key considerations: cost-effectiveness and urban regulations. By maintaining the original structure, they avoided the need for new parking provisions and achieved a more sustainable and budget-conscious renovation.

The redesign included burying the existing basement, adding a new third floor, and creating a rooftop terrace, transforming the building into a three-story mixed-use workspace.

Spatial Organization: Open, Functional, and Nature-Responsive

Each floor of JYA Home is carefully programmed to support different functions, optimizing both workflow and wellbeing:

• First Floor: Designed for office directors and support areas (pantry, restroom, storage), this level features full-height glazing that visually connects the interior with the street, fostering openness, transparency, and community engagement.
• Second Floor: The main office zone houses 14 employees and is designed for comfort and efficiency. Ample spacing between desks enhances focus, while a north-facing skylight introduces abundant natural light. The tactile experiences of rainfall, snowfall, and seasonal foliage falling onto the skylight create a sensory connection with the outdoors.
• Third Floor: A curtain-wall glass structure serves as a meeting and rest area, seamlessly blending with the plane trees along the street. Views extend toward Seoul’s surrounding mountain ranges, including Baengnyeon-san and Goeun-san, reinforcing a strong biophilic design narrative.

Local Integration and Social Connectivity

The neighborhood, though relatively underdeveloped by Seoul standards, offers a human-scaled environment filled with long-time residents and small businesses. The building nestles among barbershops, local restaurants, and hardware stores, where neighbors exchange greetings and collectively maintain the streetscape.

This setting complements the studio’s desire for a space that functions not only as an office but as a shared home—a place where the team can retreat from the pressures of architectural work and reconnect with their surroundings.

A Philosophy of Architecture as Livable Infrastructure

For JYA-RCHITECTS, the office is more than a workplace—it is a livable infrastructure that embodies comfort, community, and long-term resilience. Through adaptive reuse, sustainable construction, and contextual integration, JYA Home sets an example for how architecture can respond to both personal aspirations and urban conditions.