A Spatial-Sociological Analysis of Upper Class Housing the Chosun Dynasty - Focus on the Yang-Dong Village -

양동마을 조선 상류주거에 대한 공간사회학적인 비교 분석

The object of this study is upper class house in Yang-dong village with the purpose of spatial-sociological study of traditional Korean architecture. Space is the basic element of architecture and is fundamental for understanding architecture. Space, however, can be better understood through its social context rather than through its physical or psychological attributes. Space exists in a society, providing the physical environment which frames it Social environment affects the thoght of people who are members of that society. Space is built by the people in a society and is affected by their thought. Spatial-sociological study can explain a mutual relation between people and space through context. It defines characteristics of space based on mutual relations which exist among the people, the culture of society and the environment of society but also having a sociological component, study of architectural space should consider the social context. Since architectural space is built on social and cultural bases, to understand it requires various methods of study Spatial-sociological analysis is one alternative. Using space syntax, this study analyzes houses in Yang-dong village by not only defining attributes of individual houses, but also common attributes of houses in the village. Based on common attributes of houses in the village, the attributes of Yang-dong village houses can be re-defined within the social context. the results from a spatial-sociological analysis of upper class housing of the Yang-dong village are as follows; (1) Related to confucian ideas in Chosun Dynasty : A house has a dualistic center organized with 'an-chae' and 'sarang-chae'. 'an-chae' space is organized unsociably from outside. (2) Related to various space pattern of Yang-dong village House in the Chosun Dynasty period :As variations in the types of space pattern, the village house exhibit different attributes.