Comments on: Two barbarians fight over Korean traditional architecture in Bukchon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/ Korea... in Blog Format Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:40:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Shenzhen Whitey http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/#comment-27882 Shenzhen Whitey Thu, 05 Jan 2006 06:52:10 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=2278#comment-27882 Better than in China, where restorations of temples are solid concrete. The 'restoration' is usually an expansion of some temple made by some city's party secretary in the misguided notion that it will be the centerpiece of that city's bid to be a city of tourism. It ends up being to big to maintain well, and so feels trashed and desolate. Party secretary or whomever doesn't care, they made money off of construction kickbacks. The Chinese really think they can attract foreign tourists by building big rather than with attention to original materials and detail. Better than in China, where restorations of temples are solid concrete. The ‘restoration’ is usually an expansion of some temple made by some city’s party secretary in the misguided notion that it will be the centerpiece of that city’s bid to be a city of tourism. It ends up being to big to maintain well, and so feels trashed and desolate. Party secretary or whomever doesn’t care, they made money off of construction kickbacks.

The Chinese really think they can attract foreign tourists by building big rather than with attention to original materials and detail.

]]> By: Bubba http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/#comment-27881 Bubba Thu, 05 Jan 2006 00:50:41 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=2278#comment-27881 'Weigh', not 'way'. Sorry. I noticed it too late. ‘Weigh’, not ‘way’. Sorry. I noticed it too late.

]]> By: Bubba http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/#comment-27880 Bubba Thu, 05 Jan 2006 00:49:38 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=2278#comment-27880 "As noted elsewhere, Koreans are mostly horrible at "restoration" projects; they do not pay attention to material, i.e., matching wood grain, style, etc." I've seen this over and over, rebuilding historical sites with total disrespect for the original techniques and material. Just look at the many fortresses that have been restored. Some sections of the walls have the original small unevenly spaced bricks that could be easily moved by hand, while the new sections have large blocks that must way 2 tons each tightly fit together. “As noted elsewhere, Koreans are mostly horrible at “restoration” projects; they do not pay attention to material, i.e., matching wood grain, style, etc.”

I’ve seen this over and over, rebuilding historical sites with total disrespect for the original techniques and material. Just look at the many fortresses that have been restored. Some sections of the walls have the original small unevenly spaced bricks that could be easily moved by hand, while the new sections have large blocks that must way 2 tons each tightly fit together.

]]> By: R.elgin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/#comment-27879 R.elgin Wed, 04 Jan 2006 23:38:47 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=2278#comment-27879 As noted elsewhere, Koreans are mostly horrible at "restoration" projects; they do not pay attention to material, i.e., matching wood grain, style, etc. and do not focus on quality. Many a construction company look at quality as something they buy and install, like a granite facade. Though, as the Marmot has pointed out in the past, some Koreans are very thorough in their restoration projects, such care is an exception and not the rule. It is truly sad when a foreign, objective viewpoint is closer to the truth than those who should have a vested interest in preserving their own culture. This is why I sometimes feel like I am a more informed citizen of Korea than some who were born here and that should not be the case. As noted elsewhere, Koreans are mostly horrible at “restoration” projects; they do not pay attention to material, i.e., matching wood grain, style, etc. and do not focus on quality. Many a construction company look at quality as something they buy and install, like a granite facade. Though, as the Marmot has pointed out in the past, some Koreans are very thorough in their restoration projects, such care is an exception and not the rule.

It is truly sad when a foreign, objective viewpoint is closer to the truth than those who should have a vested interest in preserving their own culture. This is why I sometimes feel like I am a more informed citizen of Korea than some who were born here and that should not be the case.

]]> By: Shenzhen Whitey http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/#comment-27878 Shenzhen Whitey Wed, 04 Jan 2006 23:01:51 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=2278#comment-27878 If there is indeed such a 2-story hanok then I would say that they should be allowed. Maybe allow the area of 2nd storey to be a percentage of the first floor in order to keep a one-storey feel. It would allow some increase in density which would be justified in central Seoul. If there is indeed such a 2-story hanok then I would say that they should be allowed. Maybe allow the area of 2nd storey to be a percentage of the first floor in order to keep a one-storey feel. It would allow some increase in density which would be justified in central Seoul.

]]> By: Michael http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/#comment-27877 Michael Wed, 04 Jan 2006 21:54:35 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=2278#comment-27877 Looks like the British guy has been royally teed off about this for some time: <a href="http://www.kahoidong.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.kahoidong.com/</a> Looks like the British guy has been royally teed off about this for some time:
http://www.kahoidong.com/

]]> By: Sperwer http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/#comment-27876 Sperwer Wed, 04 Jan 2006 21:44:12 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=2278#comment-27876 Although the foreign owner is the owner of record and hence the actual party to the suit, it seems from the article that the prime mover here may be builder Lee Mun-ho of the Jaho construction company, who the article suggests have been systematically reconstructing the entire block where the dueling Europeans are located. I'd say there's enough smoke there to warrant a further article investigating if there aren't also some flames. Although the foreign owner is the owner of record and hence the actual party to the suit, it seems from the article that the prime mover here may be builder Lee Mun-ho of the Jaho construction company, who the article suggests have been systematically reconstructing the entire block where the dueling Europeans are located. I’d say there’s enough smoke there to warrant a further article investigating if there aren’t also some flames.

]]> By: oranckay http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/#comment-27875 oranckay Wed, 04 Jan 2006 21:12:06 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=2278#comment-27875 There _is_ such a thing as a 2 storey Hanok, though rare and mostly (not exclusively) a late 19th century downtown Seoul phenomenon and there are still a few around Jongno and Myeongdong if you look hard enough. I doubt there were ever any in Bukchon, however. Too many uptight Yangban. There _is_ such a thing as a 2 storey Hanok, though rare and mostly (not exclusively) a late 19th century downtown Seoul phenomenon and there are still a few around Jongno and Myeongdong if you look hard enough.

I doubt there were ever any in Bukchon, however. Too many uptight Yangban.

]]> By: Shenzhen Whitey http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/01/04/two-barbarians-fight-over-korean-traditional-architecture-in-bukchon/#comment-27874 Shenzhen Whitey Wed, 04 Jan 2006 21:00:49 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=2278#comment-27874 Good article. and good to see that there is at least an attempt at preservation, and trying to do it through both building codes and financial incentives. Places like Hong Kong lack them almost completely. That said, they need to take action when the law is skirted. And its so obvious the owner and the builder were both lying on the new construction ('basement with a first story') and committing fraud by using money that was supposed to go for preservation towards new construction instead. Looks like a neat area. Wonder what the rates there are for a home. Good article. and good to see that there is at least an attempt at preservation, and trying to do it through both building codes and financial incentives. Places like Hong Kong lack them almost completely. That said, they need to take action when the law is skirted. And its so obvious the owner and the builder were both lying on the new construction (’basement with a first story’) and committing fraud by using money that was supposed to go for preservation towards new construction instead.

Looks like a neat area. Wonder what the rates there are for a home.

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