Cultural Haven

Yeyeon Kwak.

Tutors: Ethan Chung.

The Haven is a communal learning centre and cultural hub below the residence of an elderly Korean couple, which aims to facilitate the reintegration of immigrant elders and homemakers who face language barriers into the community. It fosters interaction between these individuals and the younger generation as well as embracement and cyclical transmission of culture that could have been lost over time spent overseas.

Drawn to the concept of prehistoric cave dwellings and how they gave rise to burial traditions, circular forms arose to visualise the cycle where life starts partially buried and its remains return to the earth to nurture future generations. Construction using earth materials like cob, brick, and shingle is another primary motif, being a cultural practice that requires a community, symbolising compassion and cooperation.

Visitors are welcomed by an outward arc, hugging and inviting them to partake in the caretaking of the young. The floor immediately sinks underground, grounding them within the safeness and warmth of the community. As children wash their hands at the outdoor basin after playing in the garden, contact between water and dirt on their hands imitates the construction practice involving clay and mortar, symbolising the ongoing transmission of community values.