JK-AR's House for Rejuvenation blends three timber halls with Korean courtyards

JK-AR Studio has completed House for Rejuvenation in Gyeongju, South Korea, a complex of three timber buildings organized around traditional madang courtyards. The Hall of Remedy houses a 150-year-old Korean medicine clinic, the Hall of Meditation functions as an art gallery, and the Hall of Contemplation serves as a tea house. The design reinterprets local architectural heritage—including timber framing, curved structural forms, and toenmaru verandas—using contemporary construction methods. Curved elements reference the 200-year-old Samguejeong residence and the Jahamun Gate of Bulguksa Temple. The project employs local timber, passive ventilation, and improved thermal performance in roof assemblies. Three courtyards—front, central, and rear—structure the landscape, with the front yard framing views toward Gyeongju Namsan.