Naju White House by PLAN Architects Office

A Multigenerational Haven in Naju

Located in Naju-si, South Korea, the Naju White House by PLAN Architects Office redefines multigenerational living through a design that balances privacy, empathy, and shared experience. Positioned across a 10-meter-wide road from its predecessor, House of Boundary, this residence continues the architectural dialogue between two neighboring homes while embracing family life and natural harmony.

The project was commissioned by a middle-aged couple seeking a home spacious enough for their elderly parents and two children. Designed as a tranquil retreat after the husband’s retirement, the house accommodates three generations under one roof—each with distinct rhythms and spatial needs. The architects responded with a thoughtful subdivision of spaces, allowing both connection and privacy within a unified architectural form.

Design Concept: Circulation, Memory, and Return

The design process for the Naju White House began by tracing the family’s life journey—moving between childhood and old age, urban and rural settings, and collective and individual experiences. These transitions became metaphors embedded within the architecture.

PLAN Architects interpreted familiar elements of domestic life—the country house, courtyard, alley, and fence—and reimagined them in contemporary form. Through simple massing and a restrained palette of white concrete, the home exudes serenity while evoking a tactile richness through material contrasts and spatial sequences.

Spatial Composition and Material Experience

Set at the entrance of a cul-de-sac, the house creates a visual and spatial continuity with the nearby House of Boundary. While both projects share similarities in proportion and tone, each responds differently to its context—one oriented toward urban order, the other toward private retreat.

Visitors enter through a steel gate into an internal alley lined with eaves and a gentle slope. This transitional path introduces a sensory journey—shifting from the polished white façade to the raw textures of coarse stone, flagstone, soil, and vegetation. These natural materials recall the site’s original landscape, reinforcing the home’s connection to the land and its pursuit of harmony with nature.

The Garden as a Family Anchor

At the heart of the house lies a central garden, around which the living room, kitchen, and workshop are arranged. Varying floor levels subtly define each area while maintaining visual and emotional connection between spaces.

This layout allows family members to share moments of togetherness even while apart—through glimpses, lines of sight, and the gentle flow of movement between zones. The grandparents’ quarters are positioned at the base level for accessibility, featuring movable partitions that enable flexibility between two adjoining rooms.

A secondary small garden acts as an emotional core, visible from nearly every room. Children enjoy independent access via exterior stairs that connect the garden to the upper levels, encouraging outdoor play and autonomy. Meanwhile, the parents’ suite occupies the 2.5th floor, offering privacy and elevated views across the surrounding landscape.

A Home of Shared DNA

Each generation of this family has lived in different types of dwellings—country houses, Western-style homes, and modern apartments. The Naju White House merges these diverse architectural memories into a coherent whole, creating a setting where familiar gestures and new experiences coexist.

Its white, monolithic façade stands as a symbol of unity and renewal. Against the backdrop of the village entrance, the house projects an inviting, luminous presence—embodying the calm, continuity, and empathy that define this multigenerational home.

Project Credits

• Architects: PLAN Architects Office
• Lead Architect: Lim Tae Hyung
• Project Area: 236 m²
• Location: Naju-si, South Korea
• Year: 2024
• Photography: Yoon Joon Hwan

All photographs are works of Yoon, joon hwan