The Characteristics of Ondol(Gudeul) Technique and Alternative Research for New Korean-style Housing

Purpose: Part of the human heritage, Ondol developed on the Korean Peninsula and, as a heating system widely used therein, its excellence has been recognized globally. They have been used for many years, as archaeological remnants of Ondol dating to the Bronze Age demonstrate. Generally, in Korean heating systems, an Ondol is a way to warm a house by firing a furnace and heating up a flat stone. There are various types of Ondol depending on their manufacture and local forms, which shows the diversity of residential culture. As a residential feature, Ondol convey a sense of the unity and homogeneity of the Korean people. Ondol have been popularized and established over a long period, becoming a unique residential heating system in Korean culture. Historically, the traditional Ondol heating method was developed according to the needs of contemporary apartment life from as early as the Neolithic period; thus, it can be said to be the oldest and most common form of heating. Nevertheless, the international standard of Ondol technology has been promoted mainly in Europe and the West, rather than led by Korea. Method: Therefore, the present paper aims to provide concrete alternatives for the modernization and popularization of Ondol. To do so, this study will first summarize the terms related to Ondol and examine the characteristics of its structure and construction. It will then propose an alternative to the construction method applicable to the modern residential type of traditional Ondol. Result: As a result, this research will not only be limited to considering the soil and stone in house heating technologies; it will also examine the basic uses of machine equipment, electrical technology, and thermal storage or insulation as they are required in contemporary floor heating devices in traditional Ondol. The present study is significant in that its results will demonstrate the relationship between Ondol residential heating and national identity as well as identifying the superiority of Ondol heating in traditional Korean-style homes. This study will also suggest meaningful, contemporary heating methods for various countries in the future by suggesting modernization techniques for traditional residential heating.