The access area, so called "core" in the housing block, makes a buffer zone between public open space and private interior space, as well as offers chances of communication for the users. Planning and design of this area, however, tend to be not attended, comparing with another spaces in the multifamily housing block. This paper is aimed at investigating examplary model European cases and, thus, finding out some positive and applicable planning skills for multifamily housing in Korea. This study covers following aspects; firstly, the important social meaning of core area was analyzed in comparison of Korea and Europe, secondly, intensive studies on the spots, visiting German, Austrian and Dutch cases, made it possible to grasp the prevailling tendency toward assessment of this area in the Continent, Thirdly, useful planning elements and skills by European examples for more user friendliness, more economization and raising the quality of spatial design and sequential experience were founded out with regard to various core types. and lastly, some concrete guidelines for planning are presented for the improvement of so far monotnousely designed core area in the local multifamily housing. Consequently those European cases made it clear that the planning of core area is closely related to the total design of housing blocks. This study maybe conducive not only to the planning of this area, but also further to the increase of the quality of life in multifamily housing.y housing.
