ENGINEERED TIMBER · COURTYARD HOUSE
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| Project Location | Near Seoul, South Korea |
| Project Type | Residential architecture, courtyard house, engineered timber housing |
| Project Description | A laminated timber courtyard house formed by a single folded volume enclosing a private outdoor space, constructed from CNC-fabricated timber ribs and clad in black and Corten steel panels. |
| Architect | UFO Architecture |
| Project Status | Unbuilt |
| Project Year | 2007 |
| Related Development | Universal House Pattern Village including the Community Center, Sun House, Moon House and Metal House |
| Construction Strategy | Large-scale CNC-fabricated laminated timber ribs designed for prefabrication, rapid assembly and future disassembly. |
| Material Strategy | Engineered timber structure combined with black metal and Corten steel cladding to create a durable exterior envelope. |
| Design Focus | Laminated timber ribs, CNC fabrication, courtyard typology, Corten steel facade, prefabrication, landscape integration and adaptable construction systems |
Universal House Metal House is a laminated timber courtyard house developed as part of the Universal House Pattern Village near Seoul, South Korea. Together with the Community Center, Sun House and Moon House, the project formed part of a broader exploration into prefabricated housing, digital fabrication and landscape-responsive architecture.
The Metal House is organised as a singular architectural volume that folds back on itself to define a protected exterior courtyard. This simple gesture creates a strong relationship between building and landscape, establishing a private outdoor room while allowing the house to engage with the surrounding terrain.
The structure is formed from a series of large-scale laminated timber ribs fabricated using CNC technology. Designed for efficient transport, assembly and eventual disassembly, the project represents an early exploration of digitally manufactured timber architecture and prefabricated building systems.
A black and Corten steel facade wraps the timber structure, providing a robust and weathering outer skin that contrasts with the warmth of the engineered timber frame. The building is closely integrated with the topography, allowing the architecture to emerge naturally from the contours of the landscape.
Universal House Metal House reflects UFO Architecture's early research into engineered timber construction, digitally fabricated housing and adaptable building systems that combine environmental responsiveness, material efficiency and architectural clarity.
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