A demonstration of space separation using Next Furniture, a line of functional furniture. (Image provided by Samsung C&T)
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung C&T has taken a tangible step toward reimagining urban housing with the completion of a “Next Home” test bed in Yongin, south of Seoul.
The three-story, 554-square-meter facility showcases technologies designed to break away from the rigid apartment layouts that have long dominated South Korea’s housing market. Instead, it emphasizes modularity, flexibility, and efficiency.
At the core are two innovations: the “Next Ramen” structure, which removes interior columns to allow walls and rooms to be reconfigured to suit residents’ lifestyles, and the “Next Infill” system, which uses prefabricated modular floors, walls, and bathrooms that can be slotted in like drawers. Together, they allow for virtually unlimited rearrangement of living spaces.
Other features include the “Next Floor,” which hides plumbing and electrical systems beneath raised flooring, freeing kitchens and bathrooms to be relocated anywhere in the home, while also improving ceiling height.
The system promises greater energy efficiency, easier remodeling, and even noise reduction. Bathrooms, built off-site under the “Next Bath” model, are designed to eliminate on-site construction flaws while offering higher-grade finishes.
Exterior view of the Next Home test bed (Photo courtesy of Samsung C&T)
Samsung has also developed “Next Wall” movable partitions and “Next Furniture,” multifunctional furniture units that act as movable walls to divide or integrate space at will.
The company has already piloted some of these technologies in recent apartment projects, and executives say they expect the modular systems to become defining features of future Raemian-brand housing.
“Tomorrow’s apartments will not just be places to live but dynamic spaces tailored to residents’ lives,” said Byun Dong-gyu, head of Samsung C&T’s housing technology team. “Through Next Home, we aim to set a new standard for future housing while delivering enduring value through differentiated technology and quality.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
