A Large Co-living Project, Mangrove Sinchon

‘Mangrove Sinchon,’ located in Nogosan-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, consisting of 16 floors, is a co-living house that can accommodate 165 households and up to 277 people. The Sinchon branch is a multifunctional building encompassing urban housing, studio flats, and neighborhood living facilities.

Design that Conveys ‘Empathy’

To transcend from a mere ‘space’, it was designed to convey ‘empathy’ about the lifestyles of people who pursue a co-living life. For users seeking weak ties private spaces become even more private, and public spaces become more public for the flexibility and versatility of these areas. The neighborhood living facilities on the lobby floor and lower floors comprise convenience facilities for visitors and residents, creating a space for interaction where energy from various areas gathers. The residential floors feature a variety of common spaces, including floating lounges. The community facility on the top floor combines different convenience facilities and outdoor space to support diverse leisure activities for residents.

“In a shared housing where many people live together, private spaces should be more private, and public spaces should be more public. A good shared residence requires some degree of clear boundaries and closely considers the context of the site and the tenants.” – Architectural Designer Seonghan Lee.

Architect's Careful Consideration for Users

At Mangrove Sinchon, careful attention and consideration for users are also evident in common areas. In a large co-living house, the environment of common spaces, such as hallways and elevator halls, is bound to become less appealing as the ratio of exclusive use area increases, considering business feasibility. However, the Sinchon branch did not place a wall at the end of the corridor; instead, it features a small terrace with a window to bring in daylight and create a view, ensuring that even the little moments on the way home could be joyful. In addition, common spaces were prioritized in the building core to increase serviceability, and technical areas were hidden in places where users or neighboring buildings would not easily notice.

Mangrove Sinchon, an innovative model of shared housing, provides a new, rational, and cost-effective housing solution through the space design for single households, associated housing services, and community revitalization. This will create a culture of well-being for young people who dream of safe and healthy growth.

Related Content

· [YouTube] Space Film Mangrove Sinchon

· [Brick Magazine] ‘Mangrove Sinchon,’ a place where daily life becomes growth