Seochon Hanok Stay

Stayfolio has created the most unique form of hotel by relating the characteristics of Seochon to the idea of accommodations. It is a so-called “horizontal hotel.” First, it is necessary to explain what Stayfolio is. Stayfolio is a platform for finding a place to stay with the vision of “Creating a space where staying becomes a trip in itself.” It is run by Z-Lab, an architectural firm. Z-Lab did an interesting experiment in Seochon. Asking the question “What if a hotel is not encased in a vertical building but spread horizontally throughout the town?”, the experiment turned the entire Seochon into a single hotel. This is known as the “Seochon Yuhee” project. The elements of the hotel — the guestrooms, concierge, restaurants, and cafés — are scattered throughout Seochon. To check in, you should stop by “The Bookstore of One Book,” which serves as a concierge. This bookstore chooses and sells just one book a month and recommends what you can experience while staying in Seochon, including good restaurants and landmarks. Local guests may enter the “Stay” right away, but foreign guests must go through this process for better understanding of the horizontal hotel.
The guestrooms of “Seochon Yuhee” were created by renovating five Korean houses in Seochon. They are called “Nuwa,” “Ildogilbak,” “Adamhanok,” “Seochon Youngrakjae,” and “Somewhere,” names that bring to mind many heartwarming stories. I visited Nuwa, Youngrakjae, and Ildogilbak.

Walk into a long, narrow alleyway in Nuha-dong, Seochon and you will come across a house with the sign “Nuwa.” If it’s your first time there, you would probably have a hard time finding it because it’s a snug little house at a dead end. The L-shaped layout of Nuwa consists of water, trees, and tea. By the low bed is a round window that you can look out to the yard. You can easily imagine yourself lying down comfortably to watch the walls, the neighbors’ roofs, and the blue sky through the round window, with smelling the scent of a cup of tea on the table and meditation with your feet in the tub of warm water. Nuwa presents you with an experience that is quite fulfilling either with someone else or all by yourself.

Youngrakjae, meaning “a house for eternal pleasure,” is a Korean house refined by the touch of a master combining the traditional style with the contemporary lifestyle. The single-story house has an open living room, two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a dry bathroom. There’s nothing more that you’ll need. Moreover, the secret hideout in the basement has a cozy bedroom, a kitchen, a shower, and a bathroom lit by the warm light through the ceiling. The humble yard is perfect for enjoying the sentiments inspired by a quiet Korean house.
Finally, Ildogilbak is a place for book lovers. It’s the best getaway for those who choose to read to relax. Ildogilbak allows you to forget about the mundane worries and contemplate the meanings of sentences and what’s hidden between the lines. As you enter the gate, you will witness the spaces surrounding a humble courtyard. To the left of the courtyard is the bedroom, and to the right is the dining place, where you can gather with others to have a conversation or a meal. You can then leave the dining place and climb up a wooden ladder to an attic with a low ceiling. Each space has books carefully selected by “The Bookstore of One Book.” You can plan for a great day where you read books all day and hide in the attic to organize your thoughts.