The Gwanjeo District in Daejeon is a commercial hub in Seo-gu that is gaining renewed attention. Thanks to the abundant residential complexes and school facilities in the surrounding area, it attracts a large number of pedestrians. This project began with the client’s desire to create a new landmark in the Gwanjeo District.

The site is shaped like the Chinese character for “field” (田), centered around a wide, cross-shaped public pedestrian walkway. Of the five total lots, one building had already been completed, and the client requested a commercial facility plan for the remaining four lots. Given that the wide public pedestrian walkway could easily isolate each lot, the most critical aspect of this project was to give each building its own distinct character while simultaneously creating a commercial environment that would provide unity and a sense of connection among all the buildings.

JUNGLIM Architecture proposed “frames” as a common architectural language. Diverse linear frames compose the volumes and facades of each building, and by incorporating building materials derived from natural elements—such as earth, wood, stone, and water—into the design, we created spaces that are both varied and harmonious. As a result, all buildings share the common architectural language of frames while retaining their individual characteristics. Furthermore, the walkways connecting the blocks serve the dual purpose of segmenting the individual buildings while also linking them together.