EcoHanok Project in Gwangju, South Korea

During the first research residency in South Korea, a bioregional approach was employed to push further on this theme, delving into the local region to find materials, people and techniques that had the potential to be utilized within this innovative approach to architecture and design.

The materials identified included both mineral (geo) and organic (bio) types sourced from a variety of origins, such as by-products and waste from marine agriculture, including scallop, abalone, and oyster shells, as well as kombu and laver seaweed. Forestry and terrestrial agriculture were also explored, providing by-products like rice and wheat straw, along with lesser-valued materials such as hinoki pine and bamboo. By examining the construction industry, large quantities of demolition waste and excavated soil were identified. All of these elements could potentially be repurposed for construction.

Understanding the unique environmental and cultural landscape of a place is at the heart of a bioregional approach to design and architecture. Rooted in the philosophy first articulated by Peter Berg and others in the 1970s, bioregional design weaves together human and non-human resources into new configurations, enhancing the resilience and adaptability of a project—and thus a region—in the face of environmental and social changes.

Two principles were defined at the outset of the material research for the EcoHanok project in Gwangju, South Korea:

• Utilize waste streams, by-products, and/or undervalued resources:
• Combine traditional forms of vernacular Korean craftsmanship with contemporary technologies and skills.

After identifying the bioregional resources of Gwangju, Atelier LUMA and BC Materials experimented with and prototyped applications that could be integrated into the Hanok renovation. The result? Bio- and geo-based materials, such as compressed bricks made from oyster shells, plasters, glazes for tiles, Hanji paper, and algae-based panels.

For example, oyster shells were transformed into fine and coarse aggregates as well as quicklime. Working with French mason Rachid Mizrahi, a quicklime slaking process inspired by the work of Nigel Copsey was developed. One application of these techniques in the Korean context involved using quicklime derived from scallop shells, as an existing processing industry for this by-product was already in place.

This second look at the project, focused on materiality, once again demonstrates how a bioregional approach to design can shape sustainable buildings rich in interactions between local resources, cross-border knowledge, traditional craftsmanship, and contemporary uses.

Discovering and connecting materials and techniques while identifying key local actors are the first steps of a bioregional approach. The next phase involves engaging these materials in collaboration with local knowledge, craftsmanship, and industries. In this project, it was possible to leverage traditional production methods, such as ceramic roof tiles, clay brick manufacturing, Hanji paper-making techniques, and other vernacular practices like lime plasters and the use of burnt rice husks for roof insulation. By incorporating a diversity of techniques and collaborating with local actors, the project successfully integrated some of these bioregional resources into existing manufacturing processes.

South Korea, a peninsula with approximately 2,413 km of coastline, has a strong culture of marine farming and seafood consumption. Oysters, abalone, and seaweed are widely consumed, generating large amounts of waste. Shells, in particular, are a rich source of calcium carbonate, a component also found in other construction materials like sand, soil, and lime.

Discovering and connecting materials and techniques while identifying key local actors are the first steps of a bioregional approach. The next phase involves engaging these materials in collaboration with local knowledge, craftsmanship, and industries. In this project, it was possible to leverage traditional production methods, such as ceramic roof tiles, clay brick manufacturing, Hanji paper-making techniques, and other vernacular practices like lime plasters and the use of burnt rice husks for roof insulation. By collaborating with this diversity of techniques and local actors, the project successfully integrated some of these bioregional resources into existing manufacturing processes.

South Korea, a peninsula with approximately 2,413 km of coastline, has a strong culture of marine farming and seafood consumption. Oysters, abalone, and seaweed are widely consumed, generating large amounts of waste. Shells, in particular, are a rich source of calcium carbonate, a component also found in other construction materials like sand, soil, and lime.

As part of the EcoHanok building renovation for the Gwangju Biennale, Atelier LUMA and BC Materials developed a compressed brick composed of 70% shell residues. By combining oyster shell aggregates and quicklime derived from scallop shells with recycled construction rubble and slag furnace waste, this brick is resistant to outdoor weather conditions. Prototyped with the help of Chosun University and produced by Claymax, a local brick manufacturer, the bricks were used to construct a garden wall and a chimney for the Hanok.

Atelier LUMA’s projects are interconnected and woven into the bioregion through the use of resources, craftsmanship, industries, laboratories, universities, cultural heritage, and other forms of knowledge. In these projects, Atelier LUMA seeks ways to share certain processes and techniques with a wider interested audience. Together with the local team in South Korea, they had the opportunity to collaborate and turn these moments of sharing into several hands-on participatory workshops.

The first of these workshops focused on construction, using quicklime derived from oyster shells, mixed with shell aggregates and recycled construction waste, to prototype a stabilized oyster shell wall as well as a range of shell-based plasters and paints. Over two days, the workshop involved students from Tad Lab University of Seoul and Chosun University Department of Architectural Engineering.

Le premier de ces ateliers a porté sur la construction, en utilisant de la chaux vive dérivée de coquilles d’huîtres, mélangée à des coquilles et des granulats issus de déchets de construction, pour prototyper un mur stabilisé en huîtres compactées ainsi qu’une gamme d’enduits et de peintures à base de coquillages. Ces deux journées ont inclus la participation d’étudiant·e·s du Tad Lab University of Seoul et Chosun University Department of Architectural Engineering.

Other public workshops explored: embroidery on a cotton rug dyed with indigo with Studio Ohyukyung; the assembly of light fixtures and interior doors using Hanji paper made from algae with Hanok Sarang and Ilsin Handicrafts; landscaping the outdoor public garden with recycled roof tiles, shell waste, and local plants in collaboration with Anpark and VNH Design Studio; and finally, re-glazing old giwa roof tiles with a glaze made from oyster and abalone shells in partnership with October Kim Studio.

Through the renovation of this Hanok, a traditional Korean house, the team sought to test whether a bioregional approach—demonstrating that no building is (or should be) an island—could be applied in the context of Gwangju and its wider region. Building on previous collaborations and with the support of Korean partners, the Hanok was carefully repaired and refurbished over the course of a year.

The investigation into the Jeollanam-do bioregion explored industries such as seaweed farming, bamboo cultivation, hinoki forestry, and shellfish supply chains. Selected materials were transformed into a variety of architectural applications, including compressed shell-based blocks and abalone shell-based plasters. This project merges European practices rooted in bioregional design with South Korea’s rich artisanal heritage and industrialized economy. In total, eight unique material applications were tested in the EcoHanok, ranging from structural elements to lighting finishes.

Architectural improvements included the creation of a community garden connecting two streets and the enclosure of the maru (traditionally an open-air space), which was converted into a veranda for additional insulation. Today, a local association maintains the Hanok, which has become an integral part of the public life of the neighborhood.