Samsung C&T Applies Excellent Grade Long-Life Housing Design to Gaepo Woosung 7th Complex

Long-Life Housing 'Excellent' Grade Required for Incentive on Redevelopment Floor Area Ratio
Samsung C&T Applies Hybrid Structure with Dry Walls and Columns

Samsung C&T Construction Division (hereafter Samsung C&T) has proposed an advanced design for Gaepo Woosung 7th Complex that meets the 'Excellent' grade for Long-Life Housing.

Perspective view of Raemian Lumiwon proposed by Samsung C&T for Gaepo Woosung 7th Complex. Photo by Samsung C&T

Long-Life Housing refers to homes that are structurally durable and can be maintained and managed over a long period. These homes are highly durable, structurally flexible, and easy to repair, and are often called '100-year homes.' According to the current Building Act, obtaining Long-Life Housing certification is mandatory for apartment complexes with 1,000 or more units. The certification is divided into four grades: △Best (80 points) △Excellent (70 points) △Good (60 points) △General (50 points).

The government operates a system that provides incentives to increase the building coverage ratio and floor area ratio by up to 10% for projects that achieve the Excellent grade or higher. Since the introduction of this system in 2014, there have been no cases in the past 11 years where a Long-Life Housing project has actually achieved the Excellent grade or above.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government granted a total floor area ratio incentive of 17% for the Gaepo Woosung 7th Complex redevelopment plan, with 6% of this incentive contingent upon applying the Excellent grade for Long-Life Housing. In response, Samsung C&T chose a 'hybrid structure' that combines dry walls and columns, reducing the number of load-bearing walls used in the conventional wall-structure method by up to 40%.

The structure proposed by Samsung C&T allows for flexible changes in the internal layout, enabling easy adaptation to structural changes. The installation and removal of movable walls is simple, making it easy to modify the structure according to changes in family composition and lifestyle. This approach also offers significant advantages in terms of long-term maintenance.

To improve repairability, the company applied a vertical water supply system that separates in-unit dedicated pipe spaces from the main structure. In common areas, up to 20% additional space was secured in pipe installation sections, and separate inspection openings were included in the design. These measures will facilitate easier pipe repairs and reduce maintenance costs.

Samsung C&T explained, "By complying with the cooperative bidding guidelines through these structural innovations, we will not only secure floor area ratio incentives but also realize 'sustainable housing' that dramatically extends the lifespan of buildings."

The company also provides optimal future residential solutions that enhance residents' quality of life, such as applying the latest Grade 1 floor impact noise reduction technology to all units in Gaepo Woosung 7th Complex.

Living room image of the 99㎡A type 'Raemian Lumiwon' proposed by Samsung C&T for Gaepo Woosung 7th Complex. Photo by Samsung C&T

Based on its proprietary special shock-absorbing material and mortar, Samsung C&T is the only construction company in Korea to possess Grade 1 floor impact noise reduction technology for both wet and dry floor construction methods.

Floor impact noise is generally divided into light impact noise, such as the sound of moving furniture or dropping objects, and heavy impact noise, such as the sound of running or walking. Samsung C&T applied technology that meets the Grade 1 standard (37dB or less) for both types of noise.

The latest Grade 1 floor structure, developed with Samsung C&T's patented technology, consists of △250mm floor slab △70mm designated shock-absorbing material △50mm designated mortar. With this high-performance floor system, the company plans to address floor impact noise issues and significantly strengthen privacy protection.

Kim Myungseok, Executive Vice President and Head of Housing Business Division at Samsung C&T, stated, "The future of housing is not about building on solid concrete, but about how long and how quietly and comfortably people can live. Gaepo Woosung 7th Complex will be a development that goes beyond construction technology to innovate lifestyles."