Moon Hoon creates an urban greenhouse on a narrow Seoul plot
The frame of this narrow building slotted into the space between a pair of high-rise blocks was adapted by South Korean architect Moon Hoon to function as an urban greenhouse that will eventually be filled with plants.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_468_8.jpg)
Known as the SAI Project, the five-storey-high structure occupies the steel frame of a Seoul building that was left half finished, after the clients were forced to abandon their original design at the last minute.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_468_6.jpg)
Rather than waste the existing structure, they commissioned Moon Hoon to adapt the steel framework for a new use.
"The metal structure of the building had already reached completion, and the husband and wife that had commissioned the project dreamed of a resting space full of greens," said Moon.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_468_5.jpg)
The architect – who was also one of the contributors to the Golden Lion-winning Korean Pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale – introduced a grating of fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) to the framework, providing walls, floors and ceilings.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_468_4.jpg)
This material allows more than 50 per cent of daylight to permeate through the facade to the interior, creating a sheltered but light-filled environment suited to growing plants.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_468_2.jpg)
Rather than following the floor levels dictated by the frame, Moon used steel cables to support a system of split-level storeys, which include a generous ground floor, a first-floor mezzanine and three non-uniform upper levels.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_468c_0.jpg)
"I opted to suspend each part by connecting it via a cable to the structure above, and formed a haphazard grid of various sizes that did not match the steel frames of the building," he said.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_468_1.jpg)
One side of the building is left open, as it bounded by the glass wall of the adjacent building – an office block for Mary Kay cosmetics.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_468_10.jpg)
A vivid shade of yellow was added to the original steelwork, giving a gridded appearance to the space, while the staircases and steel cables are picked out in a deep shade of red.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_468_9.jpg)
Windows of different shapes and sizes puncture the walls and additional wall fixings offer places where hanging plants can be added.
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_14.gif)
"Like monkeys in the jungle, I imagine the space to be a place of comfort and fun, for those people who may seek rest in the building," added Moon.
Project credits:
Architect: Moon Hoon
Project team: Kim Sung, Kim Taehyeong
Structural engineering: SDM engineers
Construction: L Sungwon
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_0.gif)
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_1.jpg)
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_2.gif)
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_3.gif)
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_4.gif)
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_5.gif)
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_6.gif)
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_8.gif)
![SAI project by Moon Hoon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/SAI_project_by_Moon_Hoon_dezeen_13.gif)