Living Room, Dining Area and Kitchen as 'One Space'... Apartment 'Floor Plan Formula' Is Changing

[Financial News] Apartment floor plans are evolving. 'LDK (Living, Dining, Kitchen)' layouts, which connect the living room, dining area and kitchen into a single living space, as well as tower-style designs, are gaining ground.
According to industry sources on the 14th, new floor plans that take views, a sense of openness and residents' lifestyles into account have recently become commonplace in the high-end housing market.
The most representative examples are LDK and tower-style floor plans. LDK layouts are used in high-end residential complexes. They organically connect the living room, dining area and kitchen, allowing shared spaces to be used more extensively while separating private areas such as bedrooms from living spaces.
Tower-style designs are used in high-rise residential developments because they allow interiors to be arranged in various directions by utilizing multiple sides of a building. This approach can place the living room at a corner and introduce multi-sided open layouts and large windows, bringing the views available from high floors indoors.
An industry official said, "Combining LDK and tower-style designs makes it possible to connect the living room, dining area and kitchen into one spacious shared area while positioning it to secure views."
Brighton Yeouido, a representative high-end residential complex in Yeouido, adopted an LDK-centered floor plan that organically connects the living room, dining area and kitchen, along with a tower-style structure. The residential buildings were designed at a 45-degree angle to secure views for each unit while also considering residential comfort, including natural lighting and ventilation. Acro Seoul Forest, regarded as a landmark along the Han River in Seoul, also introduced an LDK-centered layout and a design that brings exterior views indoors.
Champions City Phase 1, being built in Im-dong, Buk District, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, also features a 49-story tower-style structure that organizes the living room, dining area and kitchen into one continuous living space. This creates a sense of spaciousness with a maximum width of approximately 9 meters. Depending on the unit type, the development also includes intersecting terraces with ceiling heights of approximately 5.4 meters and windows designed to maximize views. The complex will accept first-priority subscription applications on the 15th.
A developer official said, "Going forward, how spaces where residents actually spend much of their time are configured will determine the marketability of a housing product."
[email protected] Jong-bae Lee Reporter