Uirim Inn
why
A Place for Perfect Solitude and Rest
It takes only a few touches on screen to find out who is doing what these days. Every piece of life is easily exposed to anyone. So much so that anyone can see what I had for breakfast and who I met for dinner last night. And most of all, Seoul - home to one in every five people in Korea – is inundated with fast-paced trend and stimulus for all five senses. To this extent, you may not be entirely free from attention from outside, unless you consciously keep it off. Continuing everyday life, not being aware of rhythm of breathing, the host couple made a big decision to distance from cities and retreated a forest in Gangwon Province. Nestled in the forest, the couple finally found a place to keep themselves off from the outside and their voluntary decision to be alone led to perfect red in the woods. Taking on a journey to reach a quiet forest by Uiam Lake in Chuncheon, the hosts could finally keep distance from overwhelming noise and glare from the outside world. Without a doubt, the place and time in the woods granted them perfect rest.
Based on the experience from designing an accommodation by Hongcheon River and running for three years, the host couple materialized their ideas for the second place, Uirim Inn. With lear water running along a path in a village surrounded by mountains and clean air, you would feel that you are getting close to yourself and the world, rather than distancing from it. In a room embracing nature, you may blend yourself to the space designed by the hosts themselves and further, into what you could call the genuine world, nature. Blending seamlessly into the surrounding, you would gaze at scenes of nature and seasons. You may find crisp fallen leaves flying around in wind, sprouts in spring, birds hopping from one tree to another, and then, finally, your inner self. The magical experience will give you perfect rest, while listening closer to your own voice in a minimal space designed for voluntary solitude.
Based on the experience from designing an accommodation by Hongcheon River and running for three years, the host couple materialized their ideas for the second place, Uirim Inn. With lear water running along a path in a village surrounded by mountains and clean air, you would feel that you are getting close to yourself and the world, rather than distancing from it. In a room embracing nature, you may blend yourself to the space designed by the hosts themselves and further, into what you could call the genuine world, nature. Blending seamlessly into the surrounding, you would gaze at scenes of nature and seasons. You may find crisp fallen leaves flying around in wind, sprouts in spring, birds hopping from one tree to another, and then, finally, your inner self. The magical experience will give you perfect rest, while listening closer to your own voice in a minimal space designed for voluntary solitude.
people
A Turning Point in Life
Kim Namsoo and his spouse were the couple working in Seoul. But they decided to leave the city before it was too late to make a turn around and moved to Chuncheon. They spent the first three years after relocation, running their first stay. Both of the couple were introvert and felt less than comfortable with relationships, yet had to make efforts for building relationship that may have been essential for living in cities. And the stress from interpersonal relationship gave them enormous stress that they began to wish they could have a place to focus on themselves, nestled in nature. And experience from running an accommodation for three years helped them picture a place of their dream. It didn’t take them long to make their dream come true – Uirim Inn.
It is often better late than never. But before moving to Chuncheon, the couple told themselves to carry out into actions “before it was too late.” The couple teamed up and decided when and where to leave Seoul. For Uirim Inn, the co-hosts reached the similar conclusion, because they knew that unless they take actions, nothing would come true but keep running in heads. Before it was late, they decided to be brave and carry out into actions once again. And the ideas were materialized with carefully selected materials for exterior, steel, stones and materials for interior, wood. And close attention to harmonizing furniture and essential with nature can be spotted in every corner of Uirim Inn. Everything seems minimal, yet paradoxically, experience staying in Uirim Inn is fulfilling and overwhelming. For comfortable and relaxing interior, the couple was bold enough to make a complete makeover for the floor plan and cover the interior with wood. Thanks to the boldness and design idea, the calmness in the morning to experience on the bed will definitely etch in anyone’s mind. The scenes created by seasonal changes and nature leaves strong impression.
It is often better late than never. But before moving to Chuncheon, the couple told themselves to carry out into actions “before it was too late.” The couple teamed up and decided when and where to leave Seoul. For Uirim Inn, the co-hosts reached the similar conclusion, because they knew that unless they take actions, nothing would come true but keep running in heads. Before it was late, they decided to be brave and carry out into actions once again. And the ideas were materialized with carefully selected materials for exterior, steel, stones and materials for interior, wood. And close attention to harmonizing furniture and essential with nature can be spotted in every corner of Uirim Inn. Everything seems minimal, yet paradoxically, experience staying in Uirim Inn is fulfilling and overwhelming. For comfortable and relaxing interior, the couple was bold enough to make a complete makeover for the floor plan and cover the interior with wood. Thanks to the boldness and design idea, the calmness in the morning to experience on the bed will definitely etch in anyone’s mind. The scenes created by seasonal changes and nature leaves strong impression.
location
Chuncheon, the Most Accessible Travel Destination from Seoul
Chuncheon has now become one of the closest cities of Gangwon, with accessibility from Seoul thanks to opening Seoul-Chuncheon Highway – a part of Seoul-Yangyang Highway – in July 2009. Chuncheon is often listed one of the best cities with natural landscapes made by a good mix of forests, lakes and rivers and accessibility from Seoul Metropolitan area. Most importantly, the host. ouple of Uirim Inn love forests. Different species of floras and plantations are growing in every forest to create different atmosphere, and the couple was attracted especially by the woods in Gangwon Province. And since Chuncheon was often associated with romantic atmosphere, the co-hosts of Uirim Inn admitted that they were attracted to the city. And most of all, accessibility to Seoul made up one of crucial factors because they spent years living in the biggest city in Korea. To find a turning point in life, the couple found one of the safest places.
MAKING STORY
The efforts were made to build an architecture that blends well into the surrounding nature. Except picture windows in bedrooms and windows in bathrooms, no windows are designed towards outside to keep off attention from outside. Unlike solid looking exterior, it feels cozy and comfortable inside. Looking for natural material to realize the soothing atmosphere behind a weighty metallic door, they did not hesitate to overturn floor plans two times. Originally, the co-hosts of Uirim Inn did not look to build a wall surrounding the building so that the Inn could embrace the surrounding nature, forest and mountains. On a second thought, they concluded that they should draw a clear line between Uirim Inn and outside world and decided to build a stone wall.
Designed idea is themed around creating a place for retreat in nature to focus on oneself. To materialize the idea, the project began with a premise that the place should perfectly blend with nature, while ensuring privacy. The overwhelming building stretching along the forest was designed to welcome into an entirely different world.
The hosts of Uirim Inn chose concrete for exterior, because the factory-made material paradoxically harmonized well with nature. They made their choice with a belief that once exposed concrete is left with traces of nature, they would become part of the nature.
The couple asked themselves what rooms behind the heavy metal door could look like and wished that they could feel as if they were in a warm place in the woods. And they shared their imagination and idea with two directors from the architectural design studio, Baek Associates. The idea stemmed from their aspiration to make a good use of three kinds of materials – stones, steel and trees.
The hosts of Uirim Inn chose concrete for exterior, because the factory-made material paradoxically harmonized well with nature. They made their choice with a belief that once exposed concrete is left with traces of nature, they would become part of the nature.
The couple asked themselves what rooms behind the heavy metal door could look like and wished that they could feel as if they were in a warm place in the woods. And they shared their imagination and idea with two directors from the architectural design studio, Baek Associates. The idea stemmed from their aspiration to make a good use of three kinds of materials – stones, steel and trees.
SPACE
An Amazing Moment to Focus on Yourself
As you park your car after riding along the path stretching across the village, you will find a large and weighty metal door. And after a few stes behind the door, you run into a building on the right side. Following the friendly instructions on the railway, you will stand in front of a rectangular shaped steel door leading to two guestrooms. Upon opening the door, the hosts explain that you get to let go of all the woes and agonies at a point so-called Middle Earth and transition into a wooden room that looks and feels literally like a forest. Step by step, you will seamlessly phase into a place that is cut off from the rest of the world, thanks to friendly guides of Uirim Inn.
Past the Middle Earth and the space welcoming with woody scents, you will finally reach the guestroom and find picturesque scenes of nature over the picture window next to the bedroom. It may take only a few moments to take off your shoes and coats before you sit on the bed on the Korean style wooden bench. To indulge yourself in the time you spend in the woods, you may as well brew a warm cup of tea for yourself and gaze at the woods. Feeling as if you are inside one of the trees with large trunks, you may want to embrace sunlight, with your eyes closed. Inside the guestroom, you are likely to feel bits and parts of the season and time. With your eyes closed, you shall use the rest of other senses to touch and feel the atmosphere and slowly get rid of all the fatigue from the journey to the place. Then you can get up, open the window and go out to the private garden to finally face the nature. In fact, here in Uirim Inn, there may be no such thing as an encounter by chance. The nature welcomes to its guests slowly yet steadily. As you spend time strolling along the woods, you will be dismayed how fast the time flies.
In the kitchen separated from the rest of the guestroom, you can cook anything you like, without worrying about smell or mass. And moreover, you can enjoy a forest view from the kitchen. The window presents a panoramic view of the forest in the sunset and later, the forest in calmness and darkness. You may also think about cooking out on the deck in front of the kitchen. Certainly, you will enjoy changes with time and season. And everything is so quiet inside that you can listen closely to even the smallest noise of clattering of dishware. Undoubtfully, the place leads to an entirely new experience beyond monotonousness. After sleeping in, you may try filling the bathtub with warm water for morning bath blessed with abundant sunlight. Basking in the sun, you will find yourself quietly listening to your own voice. The soothing time in the morning turns into a perfect gift from nature.
Past the Middle Earth and the space welcoming with woody scents, you will finally reach the guestroom and find picturesque scenes of nature over the picture window next to the bedroom. It may take only a few moments to take off your shoes and coats before you sit on the bed on the Korean style wooden bench. To indulge yourself in the time you spend in the woods, you may as well brew a warm cup of tea for yourself and gaze at the woods. Feeling as if you are inside one of the trees with large trunks, you may want to embrace sunlight, with your eyes closed. Inside the guestroom, you are likely to feel bits and parts of the season and time. With your eyes closed, you shall use the rest of other senses to touch and feel the atmosphere and slowly get rid of all the fatigue from the journey to the place. Then you can get up, open the window and go out to the private garden to finally face the nature. In fact, here in Uirim Inn, there may be no such thing as an encounter by chance. The nature welcomes to its guests slowly yet steadily. As you spend time strolling along the woods, you will be dismayed how fast the time flies.
In the kitchen separated from the rest of the guestroom, you can cook anything you like, without worrying about smell or mass. And moreover, you can enjoy a forest view from the kitchen. The window presents a panoramic view of the forest in the sunset and later, the forest in calmness and darkness. You may also think about cooking out on the deck in front of the kitchen. Certainly, you will enjoy changes with time and season. And everything is so quiet inside that you can listen closely to even the smallest noise of clattering of dishware. Undoubtfully, the place leads to an entirely new experience beyond monotonousness. After sleeping in, you may try filling the bathtub with warm water for morning bath blessed with abundant sunlight. Basking in the sun, you will find yourself quietly listening to your own voice. The soothing time in the morning turns into a perfect gift from nature.
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INTERVIEW
Interview with the Host of Uirim Inn, Kim Namsoo
stayfolio
Uirim Inn
What is the meaning behind Uirim Inn? And what made you choose the word, inn?
Uirim Inn is located in Uiam-ri, Chuncheon in Gangwon Province. We punned with the name with double meanings – one means an inn in a forest of Uiam-ri, and the other means a beautiful lodge in a forest, using a Sino-Korean prefix for beautiful, “ui (의).” The reason we chose to name the place inn is that we aspired to run a place like a ryokan in Japan for as long as we could, and liked to deliver a message that the place readily welcomes travelers with warmth.
Please tell us more about Uirim Inn. And what is your favorite space or the space that you have poured your energy into?
You need to pass a few points before you finally open a weighty rectangular steel gate to get inside the stay - the midpoint where everything is surrounded by steel yet the ceiling is open to the sky. This place is designed to deliver breakfast menus or amenities for our guests, being free of contact. And once you get inside, you will find a picture window in front and see a garden over the window, and a bedroom with a low wooden bench, pyeongsang and a bathroom behind a large door. We paid utmost attention to the bathroom - a bathtub is placed in front of a large window to let guests feel as if they are bathing in the woods. The bedroom has been inspired from Korean wooden benches to feel utmost comfort. And you may open the window and go out to the garden any time.
We sought to design the space to create an atmosphere resembling much to forests that we chose to use wooden material for the interior and finished with natural oil. And the picture windows are the outcome of how to embrace scenes of forest in each room. From the window, you get to watch changes taking place in the nature every moment, and I am confident to say that you will like it. Especially when you take a hot bath, you will go through unspeakable emotions. I hope you experience it.
We sought to design the space to create an atmosphere resembling much to forests that we chose to use wooden material for the interior and finished with natural oil. And the picture windows are the outcome of how to embrace scenes of forest in each room. From the window, you get to watch changes taking place in the nature every moment, and I am confident to say that you will like it. Especially when you take a hot bath, you will go through unspeakable emotions. I hope you experience it.
What have you added or subtracted to stay true to your aspiration, “creating a space to focus on oneself, while being cut off from outside world?”
What we added were a private front yard, a private kitchen and a picture window for a panoramic forest view. Once you are inside, you don’t feel much of necessity to step outside – rather, you may want to stay and spend time to be mindful for yourself. What we kept off, on the other hand, was desire to fill the space. Because we wanted to keep the space minimal. We worked closely with Bori Studio since we first started working on the architectural design to find design ideas that would blend well into the space. We believed that the space could look full enough with a few essential items. And you will also find that none of the windows are facing the outside world. The design is deeply rooted in our thought that one can finally be cut off from the outside world by setting oneself free from everyone else’s eyes.
What made you separate the kichen from the rest of the space.
Our policy is that we get rid of traces previous customers to make the place spotless and fill with original scents. Thus, we spray room frangrance in each guestroom before welcoming our customers. But smells from food tend to be challenging to get rid of. And as far as I know, quite a few accommodations are not allowing their guests to cook. But we learned from our experience that there are significant number of customers who want to cook for their loved ones during their vacation. So, we tried to find ideas for our guests to cook as much as they want.
Do you have any tips for the guests who visit Uirim inn?
This isn’t necessarily a tip – rather, we wish that you could let all distracting thoughts from everyday life go for at least you are staying with us. Because many of you may be exposed to too many things these days. We’d like to suggest you spend time to be mindful to yourself and your loved ones. We run the checkout time by noon and serve our guests with brunch, instead of breakfast, because these are part of our wish that you may rest and relax in the morning time. And a bath time in the morning could be a very special experience to you.
How do you want your guests to spend their time in Uirim inn?
Staying in the place, we hope that you all get refreshed and recharged to go back to your everyday life. And it would be grateful that the place comes first in your mind when you feel fatigue from the daily routine.
Could you tell us about your future plan or goal?
We don’t have specific plans. Rather, we would say with confidence that we will make the place that beautifully ages.
STAY’s recommended
Local Restaurant
Sua Mano
Sua Mano is an Italian restaurant standing on top of Yukrim Hill in the old district of Chuncheon. Every dish is outstanding that you will never regret about travelling a distance for the place. Trained in Italy, the chef makes state-of-the art pasta and sauce every day.
STAY’s recommended
Local Cafe
Owol School
This cultural complex is a transformation of a forty-year old school building in Owol-ri. Run by a design studio BPlusM, you can enjoy vibes of a school in a remote area.
Noksaeksigan
This is a café filled with greenery where you can enjoy brunch and find a few flower pots for yourself.
STAY
Having a Stay in a Place for Travelers
Now I can add an image of a house stretching along a forest, to a few images that I often associated with Chuncheon. Gazing the forest, I was unwittingly telling myself, “this is good enough.” Because I was given a fulfilling day as a gift. I didn’t do much but felt satisfied being surrounded by nature. Moreover, I felt excited to find a secret place to spend time just for myself. Honestly, it doesn’t feel familiar to be all by myself. But it is the feeling of foreignness that makes the time for myself special. Thus, I look out the window once again. In Uirim Inn, it could be more appropriate for me to say that I am here to be surrounded by nature, rather than to stay for vacation. Breathing in fresh air, the place is presenting me time for rest and relax that I have been seeking.
4 POINT OF VIEW
ORIGINALITY
A Poem for Little Forest
Both of exterior and interior of are just adequate to nickname Uirim Inn a beautiful home in the woods for travelers. Indeed, you can let your hair down in the woods, like a traveler having a breather. The place would be perfect for a rest and relax, being cut of fron the outside world, that you would feel recharged to be out in the real world once again.
DESIGN
Scenes Created by Nature
A solid looking exterior paired with cozy atmosphere of the interior and picture windows towards the forest – these are only part of the picturesque scenes of nature that you will enjoy, once you arrive Uirim Inn.
Hospitality
Taking a Deep Breath
You will find yourself gazing endlessly at the forest. Not having what to do in mind, you may enjoy your tea, sit idly around the wooden floor or dip yourself in a hot bath. All you need to do is to take a deep breath in the woods.
PRICE
A House in a Forest
Imagine that you have a secret place to spend time in woods – it would be exciting to spend time, being embraced in a pristine forest. Without a doubt, you get to spend a while turning yourself into a beautiful traveler, while being cut off safely from the rest of the world.
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- Stay Name
- Uirim Inn
- Stay Type
- Pension
- Contact information
- Address
- 132, Uiam 1-gil, Sindong-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
- Guests / No. of Room
- 2~2 / 2
- Price
- US$ 186.12 ~ US$ 257.71
- Check-in / out
- 16:00 / 12:00
- Feature
- BBQ facilities, Breakfast, Projector or TV, Kitchenette, Tub (ex. Jacuzzi, Hinoki)
PHOTO BY | arcfactory.net