Choga (architecture)
The earlier mode of building which involved digging the ground and placing grass on top to cover gradually developed into earthen walls supporting roofs, then to wooden poles and beams.
The earliest transcript of this type of dwelling was written during the Three Kingdoms period, where it was stated that Kim Suro (57 BCE-4CE), the first King of Silla had lived in a choga.
Wooden sticks are daubed with a mixture of clayey soil mixed with chopped rice straw (4–5 cm long) in order to prevent cracking caused by high clay content.
[7][4] Rice straw is hollow inside, therefore the air trapped in it acts as a natural insulator which blocks out sunlight and prevents heat from escaping the house.
[4] Over time, rammed earth became another popular building technique as it has better thermal mass property and is more resistant against earthquake compared to wattle and daub.
Throughout the period when choga was the most prevalent type of dwelling, when a new individual moved to a town or village, they were required to rent a room for up to three years.
[4] The wooden formwork, which consists of columns, girders, beams, rafters, and many other smaller components, stands on a platform to support its roof.
[3] Therefore roofs had to be replaced every one to three years[7] depending on the regional climate, usually prior to the summer monsoon season when heavy rainfall is expected.
[4] Despite its poor longevity, the roof can be an adequate short-term protector of the house as it is not only slippery and non-absorbent of water, but also built to be much bigger than the structures underneath.
[4] In windy Jeju, this wall is called chukdam and is made of rocks stacked together without mortar so strong winds can pass through them as opposed to knocking them down.
[4] The characteristics of choga can be adapted depending on regional variables such as climate and accessible materials[12] as well as financial capabilities of each household.
Jeju's choga, which is called Chojip, was designed to withstand the constant extreme winds of the island and are built in shorter height.
[6][13] Movements and developmental projects, along with the introduction of generalised building techniques and subsequent decrease in familiarity with choga construction were all variables which led to the demise of this traditional dwelling.
[6] Choga has not provoked much academic research both domestically and internationally,[12] and is often neglected in dialogues about traditional Korean architecture in favour of Giwa which was the representative housing type of the noble, upperclass.
[4] Schools of civil engineering and architecture across Korea have excluded earthen construction from teaching curriculums and focus their research projects predominantly on concrete and steel, leading to a further lack of interest and documentation.
However these attempts have been criticised as architectural ornamentation and are ambiguous in reflecting the philosophical, environmental and cultural profundities of traditional choga.
[12] In other areas across Korea, efforts in studying as well as incorporating elements of choga into modern day architecture have been singular and individualistic.
However the project was opposed by civilians in surrounding areas as they think the building would smell like dirt and not be strong enough, lengthening the construction time to 2 years.
