YAK MA EUL LANDSCAPE SOUTH KOREA
PROJECT BRIEF
Yak Ma Eul is a luxury resort project that sits on a 10-hectare hillside area with parts of its site on protected land. The design brief demands a holistic integration between the architecture, preservation of existing farmland and pine forest. The newly constructed landscape elements shall enhance the quality of current conditions and promote guest experience in utilizing the outdoor environment. The design also need to reflect the prestige Jeju's cultural landscape feature such as volcanic stone walls, small alley ways, rolls of pine trees, and tangerine farms.
DESIGN CONECPT & STRATEGY
The interpretation of the landscape concept is reflected by the owner's brand identity "Black Yak". A mountaineering ware that is highly inspired by yak, the iconic domestic animal for the inhabitant of the Himalayas. When a person crosses a steep hill, a yak is always a trustworthy companion. It carries luggage, gives people eco-friendly thermal through its thick fur, and even its stool is a rich source of nutrition that allows new life to sprout. Yak represents a primitive sustainable lifestyle. Yak Ma Eul, literally translate as Yak Village, is a place where people can feel the Yak's heart through blurred cultural references of Jeju. In the rural setting, the landscape aims to revitalize our guests by reconnecting them with nature, providing spaces that allow memorable solitary, and creating recreational activities that transport you into the wilderness. Instead of introducing new strong design elements, the design concept aims to enhance and improve the already rural condition of the site. The buildings and hardscape materials are carefully curated to blend in with nature. The existing rocks and boulders are deconstructed and re-used as retaining walls and water features. Over 70% of the site's existing mature trees are maintained while adding charm to the lower story through plantings, landscape features, and Jeju's iconic volcano rocks. Excavated soil from the detention pond is used for site levelling, while the pond water itself is used for irrigation during the dry season.
