Design studio Arcave creates an easily maintainable green wall, complete with removable units, for this modern dwelling

This Bachelorette Loft in Seoul is the Ultimate in Plant Inspiration
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House plants are all the rage these days, and for this bachelorette residing in Seoul, simply a collection of pots and planters won’t do.

For her single-bedroom loft, on the top floor of a 30-year-old industrial building in Junghwa-dong, the wellness-inclined, globe-trotting professional wanted no less than a green wall.

The loft's central feature is a custom-built green wall. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
The loft's central feature is a custom-built green wall. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

“She likes plants, and she liked the idea of having a green wall as a centrepiece,” says Tae Kyoung Lee, founding partner at design and architecture studio Arcave.

The green wall doubles as a divider for the abode's open-plan lower level. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
The green wall doubles as a divider for the abode's open-plan lower level. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

“She also goes on business trips often, so she wanted her residence to be like a calm, peaceful hotel suite.”

Bright natural light infiltrate the loft, which feature a host of built-in furniture. The sofa is from Korean furniture brand Kaare Klint. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
Bright natural light infiltrate the loft, which feature a host of built-in furniture. The sofa is from Korean furniture brand Kaare Klint. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

The residence is replete with bright white walls and honey-hued wooden furnishing, most of which are built into the space, which Tae Kyoung describes as “warm, earthy, and nature-like – an urban resort.”

The homeowner travels frequently for work, and returns home to this loft where she lives with her pet dog. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
The homeowner travels frequently for work, and returns home to this loft where she lives with her pet dog. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

An open-plan blueprint forms the lower level, which includes living and dining spaces as well as an office. “It’s a place in which she can bring friends and business acquaintances over,” says Tae Kyoung. The service areas – kitchen, laundry, dressing rooms and a toilet – are hidden by sliding doors.

The green wall features plant containers that can be removed for easy maintenance. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
The green wall features plant containers that can be removed for easy maintenance. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

Anchoring all of this, at the centre, is an all-white staircase leading to the upstairs bedroom and bathroom. Next to it is a custom-built green wall comprised of 56 container units to hold an array of flora and fauna, designed with consultation from floral designer Jisook Yim, of Saison Fleurie

Upstairs, the loft features a bedroom and bathroom. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
Upstairs, the loft features a bedroom and bathroom. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

Measuring 6.8 x 14.7 feet, the green wall lends a measure of customisation, with each unit able to contain its own plant. The container units can be easily removed for maintenance.

Exposed concrete lend the loft a rustic, gritty feel, softened by the predominantly white interiors and the green wall's added touch of nature. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
Exposed concrete lend the loft a rustic, gritty feel, softened by the predominantly white interiors and the green wall's added touch of nature. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

It’s a beautiful feature of the apartment – a modern requirement in an urbanised environment, designed to match the interiors’ clean aesthetic.

A wine fridge built into the apartment features in the open-plan dining area, as do plenty of storage solutions. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
A wine fridge built into the apartment features in the open-plan dining area, as do plenty of storage solutions. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

It also took a lot of planning to build. “Having a green wall inside the residence created many practical problems,” says Tae Kyoung. “So we came up with a gutter and drainage system, as well as removable pots for easy maintenance.”

The loft's lower level has been intentionally designed to welcome family and friends as well as business acquaintances, featuring spaces for dining, entertaining, and work. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
The loft's lower level has been intentionally designed to welcome family and friends as well as business acquaintances, featuring spaces for dining, entertaining, and work. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

The greenery refreshes the abode with a touch of the natural, softening the grit created by the loft's exposed concrete elements. It also injects a dose of colour into the interiors, pairing well with the limestone tiled floor and stained plywood surfaces.

The interiors' minimalist aesthetic of all-white and honey-coloured, wooden surfaces continue into the light-filled kitchen. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
The interiors' minimalist aesthetic of all-white and honey-coloured, wooden surfaces continue into the light-filled kitchen. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

Upper floor windows stream in soft, indirect sunlight throughout the day, giving the homeowner – and her pet pooch – a sense of the changing sky and the movement of the clouds.

One of the green wall's unique features is its customisable function, allowing the homeowner to plant and house plants of various kinds in their own respective container unit. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)
One of the green wall's unique features is its customisable function, allowing the homeowner to plant and house plants of various kinds in their own respective container unit. (Photo: Kyungsub Shin)

Tae Kyoung reports that the client is “satisfied with the overall atmosphere.”

“She likes the large entrance area that plays the role of an indoor garden, and” – of course – “the green wall.”

See more: These 5 Plants Will Spruce Up Your Home This Spring

Tags: BacheloretteJunghwa-dongSeoulArcave
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