Sinpyeong-myeon 'Flexi Form'... A Space That Flexibly Transforms
Reflecting Aging, Low Birthrate, and Lifestyle... Collaboration with Architect Yoo Hyun-jun
POSCO E&C has introduced a new floor plan designed to satisfy various family compositions, ranging from dual-income no-kids (DINK) couples and two-person households to five-person households where three generations live together. The concept, named 'FLEXI-FORM,' features spaces that can be flexibly transformed.
The scene of POSCO E&C's 'Tomorrow's Residential Space Strategy and Floor Plan' presentation held on the 27th at The Sharp Gallery in Jagok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. From the left, Jeon Huntae, Head of Architectural Design at POSCO E&C, Yoo Hyunjoon, Professor at Hongik University College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and Choi Junghoon, CEO of EWAI, are engaging in a Q&A session with the audience. / Photo by Noh Kyungjo
On the 27th, a presentation titled "Strategies and Floor Plans for Tomorrow's Residential Spaces" was held at The Sharp Gallery in Jagok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. POSCO E&C developed and unveiled floor plans that accommodate the increasingly diverse future lifestyles alongside social demographic changes such as aging and low birth rates.
According to POSCO E&C, FLEXI-FORM embodies three strategies based on the new paradigm of "spaces that change solely for me": "pursuit of sustainability" spanning multiple generations, "de-bordering of space," and "realization of wellness." It features 20 lifestyle plans by combining nine specialized elements across eight types of slab and tower layouts with exclusive areas of 59㎡, 84㎡, and 130㎡. The scope of FLEXI-FORM’s application has been diversified to include not only families of three to four members but also rapidly emerging one- to two-person households such as singles, DINK couples, active seniors, and three-generation cohabiting families.
FLEXI-FORM integrates the living room, dining room, and kitchen (LDK) spaces while securing a wide terrace area to allow residents to feel nature even in an apartment. Notably, to maximize spatial flexibility, columns are positioned on the periphery, minimizing load-bearing walls within the floor plan.
The floor plan for two-person households reflects independent preferences to the fullest. Inspired by the fact that individuals have different sleep patterns, the master bedroom’s sleeping area is separated, and an alpha room that can be used as a study or hobby space is separately configured. A home spa space is also provided, featuring a private sauna facility and a bathtub with terrace views by expanding and modifying the existing shared bathroom area.
The floor plan for a four-person family with two school-age children enhances space efficiency by proposing a study room in addition to a dressing room between the children’s rooms. The floor plan for a five-person family sharing three generations consists of separate bedrooms, bathrooms, and terraces for each couple. In particular, the senior couple’s master bedroom includes a dedicated living room space to strengthen independence. Additionally, there are floor plans designed for singles, couples living with "Kangaroo kids," and others.
Floor plan of the new layout (Flexi Form) developed by POSCO E&C for a family of four with two school-age children / Image provided by POSCO E&C
Star architect Professor Hyun-Jun Yoo of Hongik University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CEO of Hyun-Jun Yoo Architects) participated in the development of FLEXI-FORM. At the presentation, Professor Yoo gave a lecture titled "The Direction of Future Residential Spaces." He said, "We can imagine the blurring boundaries between urban and rural areas and the ambiguous nature of roads between movement and staying. Spaces inevitably change according to lifestyles, and revolutions in materials and technology will drive these changes."
POSCO E&C explained that copyright registration has been completed to apply the new floor plans to 'The Sharp' and 'OTIER' sales complexes. Jung Hee-min, head of POSCO E&C’s Architecture Business Division, said, "While pursuing sustainability, we aimed to propose new residential spaces that respond to changes in family members triggered by declining birth rates and increasingly diverse lifestyles. Marking our 30th anniversary, we reflected on the past 30 years and planned for the next 30 years, continuously developing residential products that can meet evolving customer needs."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
