I have always pondered the question: What defines hanok, and how far can the term be stretched? There is no absolute or fixed answer. Yet, new attempts have led to new discoveries. Hanok has become more convenient and aesthetically refined, but this is still just the beginning. Onjium Housing Studio will continue to explore new ideas and build upon its achievements. Even materials and construction methods once considered fundamental, such as wooden structures and tiled roofs, may eventually fade.

Nevertheless, the universal values and core principles embedded in hanok will deepen and endure as the essence of Onjium. Hanok will continue to evolve into modern architecture—one that remains rich in spirit.
--- An excerpt from the Preface, “Hanok, Timeless and Contemporary Architecture”

The idea of what constitutes good land and good scenery shows little difference between East and West. For example, in the mountainous Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, the criteria hunters used to select sites for their dwellings ultimately align closely with our principles of pungsu. They sought places that faced good mountains, offered sheltered topography to block the wind, and provided easy access to water. All of this stems from practical wisdom accumulated through life experience. ... There is no such thing as bad land. Even if one were to encounter such land, it is the architect’s responsibility to find solutions.
--- An excerpt from “The Site: Awakening to the Land”

To install a cornerstone, you first need to dig a large hole and create a proper foundation. Even the cornerstone itself will gradually sink into the ground over time. This is one of the greatest structural challenges in hanok architecture. If all the pillars were to sink evenly, the house would remain stable—but that’s rarely the case, because ground conditions such as soil composition and geology vary from place to place. To maintain the integrity of the structure, it’s not enough to simply rely on the pillar itself; the connecting structural framework must be stable as well. Without the development of a robust wooden framework, cornerstones would not have been possible in the first place. ... The emergence of the cornerstone represents a critical moment in the history of architecture, a breakthrough where humanity first challenged gravity and achieved remarkable progress. Even today, we use the term “cornerstone” to describe the beginning and significance of an undertaking. The shape or pattern of a cornerstone is merely decorative; the true essence lies in its functionality.
--- An excerpt from “The Floor: To Step Upon and Rise”

Hanok has undergone modernization in many aspects. For walls, materials like glass are now commonly used, greatly diversifying material options. But roofs have not followed the same trajectory. Think about it: if a hanok roof were to discard its giwa tiles, could it still be called a hanok? Could we propose a hanok without roof tiles?... Historically, tile-roofed houses emerged from the functional necessities of their era, but today, the conditions are entirely different. Yet despite these vastly liberated circumstances, we find ourselves confronted with the most difficult question: the question of hanok identity. The problem is not technical feasibility—it’s that structures without tiles are not readily accepted by the public as authentic hanok. It is less an issue of aesthetics and more a matter of cultural imagery. Can something still be recognized as “hanok” without the “soaring eaves line of a tiled roof”?... this presents a particularly difficult challenge for us because, as I mentioned, the issue lies not with the material itself but with public perception. It’s an area we continue to explore deeply.
--- An excerpt from “Roof: Shielding from the Sun”

The first challenge in addressing hanok’s shortcomings—issues of cold, security, and soundproofing—was to develop windows that maintain the aesthetics of traditional design while significantly improving functionality and convenience. This has been an area of diverse experimentation since Onjium Housing Studio began designing. Doors fitted with traditional hanji paper, which required regular replacement, needed alternatives that could meet today’s preferences for design, convenience, and durability.... We then partnered with a Korean company specializing in system windows to develop windows that fit modern hanok, which are now readily available on the market. ... If there are aspects where traditional hanok do not satisfy user needs, we actively accommodate those needs—not just with windows but across all areas—while preserving hanok’s integrity, researching and developing solutions to fulfill them. Through this process, I believe today’s hanok continues to evolve.