EATGOLF! got in touch with John Friedman, co architect of Yangsan Golf Clubhouse, to discuss the 50,000 square foot structure which was designed to sit comfortably within the landscape, as well as to produce a strong and recognisable image for the club’s membership.
What are your design philosophies?
Our primary interest lies in designing what we refer to as “social spaces” – spaces that foster social interaction, understanding, and integration. This is particularly important when one considers the heterogeneous cultural realm(s) in which we live.
That being said, it is also our intention that our buildings inspire joy, wonder, and reflection - for both the individual and group alike - and that they sit meaningfully in their physical, social, and cultural contexts.
Some of the consistent strategieswe use to accomplish these aims are to frame dynamic views within our structures, as well as to maximize views to the urbanistic and natural worlds beyond. Blurring the boundaries between exterior and interior space, and using natural light (often through skylights) to activate the interior spaces are also common strategies in our designs.
How did the design of Yangsan golf clubhouse come to be so different from the norm?
The easy answer is that we just designed it according to the core values that guide most of our freestanding buildings: maximization of exterior views, strong indoor-outdoor relationships, dynamic views and relationships within and throughout the buildings’ interiors, use of natural light to activate largely open interior spaces, a minimal palette (though this does not apply for many of our interiors projects), and the use of sculptural forms that give the buildings a clear identity, but also allow them to sit comfortably and meaningfully within their contexts, whether natural or urban.
We visited a great many golf clubs in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, many of them very exclusive clubs. But what always struck us was the disconnect between the interior spaces and the greens, not to mention the beautiful natural landscapes that often sat just beyond. Our first goal was to bring the life of the natural world into the interior.
We were also aided by the fact of being in Asia, Korea specifically, where there is more of an acceptance of modernism and modern (open, light-filled) spaces. These cultures have a lot of history and baggage, but thankfully not the baggage of stuffy, smoke-filled, dark wood-paneled club rooms with little connection to nature or natural light. Contemporary ideas and industry have allowed Asia to compete very successfully with the West, so thankfully they extend this attitude to their architectural thinking and expectations.
We never had to convince our clients of anything that we did. They understood immediately. Here, I might also add that though we were able to ignore the historical model of the golf clubhouse, we were inspired, in a way, by the architectural heritage of Korea. The building is essentially a series of overlapping, upwardly-tilting butterfly roofs anchored to the earth by a set of limestone volumes. The butterfly roofs are an inversion of the gable roof found on most traditional buildings. The limestone volumes were inspired by the ancient stone fortifications found in the area.
What has been the reaction to your design of Yangsan golf clubhouse from the members of the club?
The reaction has been great. The members love the light filled spaces, the open plan, and the views to the exterior. Even within the men’s locker room, there are expansive views to the course and the mountains beyond. The club is very popular.
What advantages do you feel modern styles of architecture can offer the end consumer?
By now, it is very clear that we are committed to modern architecture. But though of course we enjoy the sculptural, material qualities of this architecture for their own sake, the bottom line is that when people are in open, light-filled spaces with a connection to the natural world, their emotions and moods are often encouraged in positive ways. The free plan that comes with modern architecture is also very beneficial because it encourages interactions between different kinds of activities and spaces.
