Transforming Urban Religious Spaces: The Innovative Facade of Won Buddhism Yeoksam Temple

In the heart of Seoul's Yeoksam district, the Won Buddhism Yeoksam Temple stands as a unique fusion of spirituality and modernity. Designed by GUBO Architects in collaboration with Hong Jihak, this once ordinary five-story building has been transformed into a serene sanctuary that seamlessly integrates with its bustling urban surroundings, reflecting a thoughtful balance between traditional religious values and contemporary urban life.

Central to this transformation is the building’s innovative facade, crafted using the Solar Skin system from Facade Textile International. This facade not only reflects the temple's spiritual mission but also redefines the relationship between sacred spaces and the city.

The Facade Design & Structure :

The facade of the Won Buddhism Yeoksam Temple is key to fostering interaction between the temple and the community. Designed as a transparent yet protective barrier, it incorporates the circular Il Won Sang motif, symbolizing unity, and is made of 2×2 meter textile modules.

This choice allows natural light to permeate the space, creating a soft boundary between the sacred and the secular, while offering a calm, orderly contrast to the surrounding urban chaos.

SOLAR SKIN : MODULAR CONFIGURATIONS TO MEET ALL YOUR STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES !

The facade is constructed using the Solar Skin system, an innovative tensioning technology specifically designed for large-scale textile facades.

The system is versatile, robust, and capable of stretching a variety of membranes. This adaptability made it the perfect choice for the Won Buddhism Yeoksam Temple, where the facade needed to perform both aesthetically and functionally.

Technical Excellence: Engineering the Facade

The Solar Skin system's technical features are impressive:

• Wind Resistance: Capable of withstanding wind speeds up to 250 km/h, Solar Skin provides exceptional durability, essential in an urban environment like Seoul.
• Material Versatility: The system is membrane-agnostic, allowing for the use of various textile materials (ETFE, PTFE, PVC...) that offer different aesthetic and functional properties. The membrane used for this project is the FrontSide View 381 from Serge Ferrari Group .
• Modular Design: The facade is divided into 2×2 meter square modules, ensuring a neat, orderly appearance that complements the temple's peaceful interior. This modular approach also simplifies installation and maintenance.
• Sustainability: Solar Skin is 100% recyclable.

For this facade, we used Solar Skin Side & Double configs:

• Solar Skin Side offers a robust and reliable framing solution that ensures easy, intuitive, and adaptive on-site implementation, thanks to its SWAN tensioning system.
• Solar Skin Double 80 is designed to bridge two adjacent membranes using a single framing structure, providing an efficient and cohesive facade solution

Installation and Adaptability

The installation process of the Solar Skin system is designed to be intuitive and efficient. The system's M12 technical channel enables precise positioning and tensioning of the membrane, ensuring that the facade remains taut and secure.

This flexibility is particularly important in seismic zones, where the facade must adapt to building movements. Additionally, the Solar Skin system allows for easy retensioning, ensuring that the facade maintains its aesthetic and functional qualities over time.

Collaboration with MBK Korea :

The facad installer MBK, has used our Solar Skin profiles to their fullest potential. This collaboration highlights the seamless integration of Facade Textile International’s advanced technology with MBK Korea’s expert construction capabilities, ensuring a flawless execution of this ambitious project.

The Role of Serge Ferrari’s FSV 381 Membrane

The Frontside View 381 membrane plays a crucial role in the transformation of the Won Buddhism Yeoksam Temple’s facade. It enhances the temple’s thermal efficiency by blocking up to 78% of solar heat, contributing to energy savings and improved interior comfort. The membrane’s semi-permeable nature allows light and shadow to interact dynamically, creating a visually engaging facade that strengthens the connection between the temple’s peaceful interior and its urban environment. This blend of functionality and aesthetics helps create a serene, energy-efficient space in the heart of the city.

Serge Ferrari Group

Redefining Religious Architecture in Urban Spaces

The Won Buddhism Yeoksam Temple redefines urban religious architecture by integrating a textile facade with the Solar Skin system. This innovative design creates a permeable boundary that connects the sacred space to the surrounding city, making it more accessible to the community. The project exemplifies how modern technology can harmonize with spiritual architecture, creating spaces that are both functional and deeply connected to urban life.

Check out more projects by FTI here !

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Facade Textile International

Leading the way in advanced textile facade solutions.

Website: www.facade-textile-international.com

Contact: +33 1 84 80 95 11

Whatsapp : +41 79 137 81 59

Email: [email protected]

Sources :

• Loose and yet Precise: GUBO Architects + Hong Jihak: Won Buddhism Yeoksam Temple
• Facade Textile International. "Solar Skin Aluminum Profiles: Advanced Facade Solutions"
• Serge Ferrari. "Frontside View 381 Membrane: Technical Specifications."
• photos : Texture on Texture