Characteristics of the Design and the Propose of the New Construction Drawings of the Japanese Legation of Seoul around 1899

The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of the design and the propose of the new construction drawings of the Japanese legation of Seoul for the understanding of the early foreign wester-style legation in Seoul. First, These 108 drawings are confirmed to have been made around 1899 by the request of Kato, the Japanese Minster. The Japanese legation by western wood structure was in need of repair and too small. So, he planned the new building coinciding with political situations of the time, but these plan could not be realized. Meanwhile, three layout drawings made from 1888 to 1896 shows the same contents about the early region of the legation. The first floor was planned as a public space and the second as a private. Subordinate space like a kitchen and Japanese style room were planed separately. This plan was big and extravagant than other foreign legations and some of drawings were signed. The features are identified in two ways. In the view of space planning, active acceptance of its entertainment space like a ball room, adding of the Japanese room, and external placement of a toilet are noticeable. In the view of planning style, use of about 1m module and dual dimensioning by a center-line and outside-line are identified. Finally, These are valuable in terms of complete drawings by a private architect before 1900 and early western style building in Korea.

1899년경 '경성(京城) 일본공사관(日本公使館) 신축(新築)' 도면의 작성 배경과 계획적 특징