COM | Minimalism of shared living community in Seoul Dongdaemun, South Korea

Make a hotel a home

Once a traditional business hotel, Dongdaemun Mangrove Hotel has now undergone an extraordinary transformation into a vibrant co-living community of over 300 people, redefining the city life of downtown Seoul. In an era of uncertainty over housing choices, the emergence of cohabitation provides a novel option to cultivate a shared living experience in a carefully crafted comfortable residential space. MGRV is the visionary behind the program, whose vision is to transcend traditional accommodation concepts to create a homely public living environment that allows individuals to coexist seamlessly in intuitively designed public and private spaces, promoting harmony.

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From Tourist Space to Community Center

At the entrance to the former business hotel, it always makes a unique impression. In keeping with the spirit of living together, the facade has been redesigned with transparent glass, replacing the previous grandiose structure. In addition, in the spacious lobby space, automatic doors and a cafe were introduced, creating an attractive atmosphere conducive to community interaction. The facilities of traditional hotel rooms are simple, suitable for short-term stays, which have been completely renovated to create a new room layout. Furniture tailored to space constraints and usage needs, such as luggage storage under the bed, embodies the efficiency and functionality of a reimagined living space.

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Elevate shared living spaces beyond private residences

The diverse public spaces, including spacious living areas and stunning roofs, reflect the essence of cohabitation and meet the desire for residential amenities that individuals typically pursue. Carefully plan facility layouts and user patterns to blend space closely with everyday life. For example, the shared kitchen is divided into three types, the functional layout is located on the residential floor, and the larger kitchen station is located on the top floor, which is seamlessly connected to the social kitchen on the roof. Strategically located near elevators, the underground seating area allows for vibrant communication that transitions to more private areas as one delves into more private areas, achieving a harmonious balance between personal and public life within a single building.

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Create a cozy home with COM Intuitive Furniture Design

The most important goal is to make this space a “home” in every sense. To accommodate the transition of young city dwellers to independent living, our focus goes beyond the short-term and isolated option of a studio or dormitory, but a desire to provide a safe and stable refuge. This spirit is fully embodied in lighting, furniture design and decoration materials. The lighting fixtures are designed to evoke the visual comfort of the home and are lightly diffused with translucent glass. Furniture and wall panels with wood finishes not only enhance tactile warmth, but also provide a harmonious balance between colder materials such as metal and glass, ultimately giving the space a sense of security and tranquility.

The Dongdaemun Mangrove Project is a collaboration project launched by the MGRV team and COM in 2022. It covers 11,588 square meters, consisting of a 15-storey building with 177 independent living units and short-term accommodation. After six months of construction, the project successfully welcomed new homes in August 2022. Dongdaemun Mangrove Forest is centered on the cozy lobby lounge and community service desk on the first floor, as well as countless members-only public spaces that span the two floors below ground, embody a harmonious atmosphere. A fusion of “personal life” and “shared life” in a carefully curated urban oasis.
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