Soohyun Chang

Atelier Chang have designed brightly coloured pods for a ‘minimalist luxury’ glamping resort near Suncheon in South Korea.

The SJCC Glamping Resort consists of 16 living units, with an onsite restaurant and reception. The units are manufactured off site and connected to the mains electricity and water supply; they feature a living area, two bedrooms and a kitchen and bathroom. They are made from a lightweight steel frame, covered with an insulated tent-like fabric, making them suitable for use in the summer and winter (when temperatures can drop as low as minus 15 degrees celsius).

Soohyun Chang, founder of Atelier Chang – which has offices in London and Zurich – told CLAD the resort was designed to bring guests closer to their natural surroundings: “It’s not about observing nature from far away or from behind a glass screen. For millennials who are seeking different sorts of experiences from those offered by more conventional theme parks or beach resorts, our approach provides a chance to create a truly memorable experience in the most spectacular of natural surroundings.

“We designed the units in a way that would offer guests a unique experience of staying in a natural, open space including a double-height mezzanine, a wide open floor plan and panoramic view from inside. Having taken this project through so many prototypes, we’ve achieved the most minimal way of construction using the lightest materials possible.”

Chang told CLAD that she has had enquiries from companies interested in the glamping units from Australia, Europe and Asia, and is seeking investors to create a similar glamping resort close to London in the UK.

“Compared to other forms of hospitality developments such as hotels or chalets, the upfront costs and time spent in planning is greatly reduced,” she said. “These units can even be used as temporary structures to maximise the value of a site prior to planning approval being granted for a more substantial resort development and construction taking place. Each unit is generally less than the typical cost of a car such as a Toyota Prius, and can be ordered and manufactured in as little as 8-10 weeks.”

Before launching Atelier Chang, Chang worked as an architect for Herzog & de Meuron and Zaha Hadid Architects.