| Title |
Dilemmas in the Construction of the Blue House and the Role of the Korean Traditional Architecture, 1988-1991 |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2024.40.7.113 |
| Keywords |
Blue House; Tradition; Modernization; Authority; Wood |
| Abstract |
This study explores how tradition was expressed in three buildings constructed at the Blue House in the early 1990s and why these
differences arose. It argues that expressing tradition wasn't solely for architectural or aesthetic purposes, but also served specific political or
functional aims. The new Blue House buildings needed to fulfill multiple goals, often conflicting with each other. Firstly, they had to
incorporate traditional Korean materials, techniques, and forms to replace a building from the Japanese colonial period. Simultaneously, they
had to represent the nation's progress, symbolizing a newly developing South Korea. Moreover, these buildings had to signify the country's
supreme power while also embodying a new democratic era. These seemingly conflicting values of tradition and modernity, authority and
democracy could not be prioritized separately, both needed pursuit. This study examines how these conflicting values were balanced through
traditional forms of expression. By delving into these aspects, this study not only sheds light on the complex nature of the construction of
the Blue House but also helps understand the modernization attempts of Korean traditional architecture more broadly. |