The Traditional Korean House- Hanok [Detailed Guide]
Traditional houses in various countries have their peculiar characteristics and significance. The traditional Korean house is called Hanoks and they have their special importance and value.
There is much more to know about these houses and today we are going to get detailed information about the Hanoks in this post. So, get ready to know more about it.
Ondol and Maru
Now, Hanok can be both large and small. Many Hanoks have many rooms inside it and are constructed of the modern materials while bark-roofed mud huts are having one or two rooms and they are called Hanoks too.
A house having an Ondol and Maru is considered a Hanok irrespective of what region it is built-in and what materials are used to construct it. Now, you might be having a question in your mind that what are these new terms: Ondol and Maru?
In the Northern regions of Korea where there is a cold climate, there is a need for a heating system and that need is sufficed by Ondol, an underfloor heating system. Now, for the Southern regions that have a hot climate, there was a need for a cooling system and that need was fulfilled by Maru, a cooling structure.
Like Korean house, you can also know the architecture of the Japanese Tea House.
In the early times, people used to live in the Hanok with Maru in the summertime and they used to shift to Hanok with Ondol to warm themselves in the winter. It was not possible to have both Ondol and Maru in the same house in the early period as wood for the Maru and fire for the Ondol are not compatible with each other and can catch fire easily.
But with time, the pattern changed for climate and Korean people were forced to develop a house that has both the cooling and heating system together. This makes Hanok a special house whose architecture is considered unique with the Ondol and Maru placed in the house together.
What Materials are Used for its Construction?
These traditional homes are constructed of wood, clay, stone and other natural materials provided by Earth.
Wood is used for the construction of pillars and maru. Clay is used for the construction of walls and floors. The roof is also made of clay and that’s what keeps the hanok cool in summer and warm in winter. (clay has the innate properties of heating and cooling). The heating system of Ondol is constructed of stone.
Another very special material that is used in these houses is Hanji which is the traditional Korean paper. This paper is made from the bark of the mulberry tree. Hanji is applied to walls, ceiling, doors, and floors in the houses.
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