Landscape Characteristics of Flower Beds Along the Nae-oe-dam (Wall) of Traditional Korean Houses in Gyeongsangbuk-do

Abstract

Background and objective: Hwadan (flower beds) established along nae-oe-dam—walls or fences constructed withintraditional Korean houses—are similar landscape facilities to hwa-o (花塢), which are flower beds typically found in thesarang-madang (men’s quarters courtyard) of such houses. However, little to no research in the field of landscape architecturehas specifically examined hwadan adjacent to nae-oe-dam (hereinafter referred to as nae-oe-dam hwadan). Despite theirsignificance as a landscape feature in traditional residential spaces, the landscape value of nae-oe-dam hwadan remainsunderappreciated, leading to the gradual loss of their original form through artificial replacement of plant species and demolition. In response, this study aimed to investigate the landscape characteristics and cultural value of nae-oe-dam hwadan intraditional Korean houses. Methods: A comprehensive survey was conducted on 309 traditional houses in Gyeongsangbuk-do, including 304 culturalheritage-designated houses and 5 non-designated ones, to identify 20 sites containing nae-oe-dam hwadan as researchsubjects. Based on field survey data, the location, function, form, size, and flora (plant species composition) of thenae-oe-dam hwadan were analyzed. From this analysis, their landscape characteristics were identified. Results: Nae-oe-dam hwadan were installed along nae-oe-dam in various areas of traditional houses, including thesarang-madang, an-madang (women’s quarters courtyard), haengrang-madang (servants’ quarters or annex courtyard), andbackyards. Among these, the highest installation rate was observed in the sarang-madang, with nae-oe-dam hwadan presentin 13 of the 20 research sites. These nae-oe-dam hwadan function both as a visual screen, reinforced by the planted trees, andas a landscape element contributing to the overall aesthetic of gardens. Furthermore, nae-oe-dam were also installed in housesconstructed during the Japanese colonial period following the end of the Joseon Dynasty, and hwadan were incorporated into thesewalls for landscape use. Notably, the nae-oe-dam hwadan located in the an-madang featured a variety of plantings, includingtrees, reflecting a shift in the traditional custom of not planting vegetation in the an-madang of Korean houses. Two distinct typesof nae-oe-dam hwadan were identified: one-sided and double-sided. The “one-sided” type was typically installed along linear(“ㅡ”-shaped) nae-oe-dam and most commonly featured a rectangular layout. In contrast, “double-sided” hwadan were arrangedto surround the nae-oe-dam, resulting in irregular forms not seen in conventional flower bed designs. A total of 58 plant speciesfrom 34 families were identified in the nae-oe-dam hwadan. The most frequently planted tree species was Campsis grandiflora,suggesting that both functional considerations—such as privacy enhancement—and landscape aspect were taken into account inthe planting design. In terms of planting techniques, solitary planting of climbing plants and trees was most commonly used toreinforce visual screening, while cluster or mixed planting of shrubs and herbs was employed for landscape enhancement. Conclusion: The plant species selected for nae-oe-dam hwadan were found to differ from those used in conventionalhwa-o of traditional houses, with a clear emphasis on enhancing visual screening. Species with long flowering periods andvibrant blossoms were primarily chosen, indicating that aesthetic value was also an important consideration in addition tofunctional intent. Furthermore, the hwadan installed on both sides of nae-oe-dam exhibited diverse forms not commonlyseen in traditional settings. The findings showed that nae-oe-dam hwadan, previously overlooked as formal landscapeelements in traditional Korean houses, possess various, distinctive landscape characteristics. Although their installationrate was low, they hold significant value as rare and specialized features within the traditional garden landscape.