Analysis of traditional Korean space and its application to a contemporary problem : a crematorium

This is more of an experimental design thesis rather than a theoretical research-oriented thesis on the history of Korean Architecture. Ultimately, a design of a concrete building, a crematorium, will be the final product of this thesis and will serve as a vehicle with which to experiment with my ideas in the design process. There is a strong driving force in this thesis: the aspiration to interpret the architecture of my ancestors with a fresh eye - in light of spatial organization. Thus, it was a necessary first step to visit a few historical buildings to experience the spaces themselves, following with an analysis of the plan afterwards. Throughout my own study, some assumptions were drawn as design guid~lines for the design of a crematorium. The critical issue of this design thesis centers on the evolution of 'Non-diagrammatic Space' from 'Diagrammatic Space' in the history of Korean architecture. Designing a building has been thought a complex process which relates political, economical, and social factors at the same time. But, though we know this intuitively, a design methodologist recently proved that most designs are generated not by listing all constraints but by starting with a 'prime generator'. In this context. the diagrammatic Korean temples are good illustrations of the 'Prime Generator'. But my main concern lies in ideas that cannot be easily explained by the notion of prime generator in the non-diagrammatic temples, which were the outgrowth of deep contemplation and a process of trial and error through hundreds of years.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Min, Kyuam

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Thomas Chastain.

• Architecture.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68730

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/68730