Name: Juyeongru Pavilion
(Changdeokgung Palace)
Architect: G.R. Harding (British)
Approximate Date: 1910
Materials: Granite, Wood, Plaster
Location: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul


Disappearing in Plain Sight

Have you ever looked at a traditional Korean building and thought of how vibrant the colors were? When I first saw those vibrant reds and blues of Dancheong paint under traditional roofs, the colors felt bold and loud against the surrounding of the quiet woods. It seemed completely contradictory.

But recently, I went inside the Changdeokgung Palace and was standing in front of the Juyeongru Pavilion when it completely changed my perspective on how we see and perceive architecture.

I chose this spot to challenge our traditional ideas about “blending in”. Usually we would think of blending in as having similar colors to “blend in” or use beige or olive to hide the colors. However, the Joseon-era architecture apparently thought of something different. They were not just painting a building with bright, vibrant colors; they were utilizing the light as well. 

Around the 1770s, King Jeongjo had rebuilt this structure for the royals as a library and reading room. The top floors, with sweeping views, were where the King and top scholars read and discussed great ideas. King Jeongjo wanted to built a place where the king could feel nature while contemplating matters about the nation. 

What makes this special is the Yeok-gwang. From the view outside, the patterns are striking. But when you are inside, looking out against the sun, the vibrant colors transform. The mineral green mirrors the bright red harmonizes with the earthy pine trunks, and the blues blend with the sky. 

Sitting there, the building “disappears”. It acts like a frame that dissolves into the forest. You feel entirely immersed in a breathable, living environment.

On top of this, the pigments used to make Dancheong are literally ground-up minerals from the earth. This is a reminder that traditionally, Korean architecture wasn’t to conquer the land and mountains, but to harmonize with it. This reflects our modern world, where tall buildings dominate lands and block our natural landscape and calls for modern architects to be challenged.



Works Cited

Juyeongru Pavilion