'The Magic of Balconies': 36 Pyeong Exclusive Area Expands to Around 40 Pyeong at Okjeong Jungang Station The Atrium II, Model Home Opening on the 8th

- Indoor Balcony Design Debuts in Okjeong, Yangju: 119m² Exclusive Area with 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Dress Room, and Pantry
- Two and a Half Years After Balcony Approval: Surge of Mid- to Large-Sized Officetels Emphasizing Service Areas

As the burden of presale apartment prices increases, more prospective buyers are considering the usable living area when choosing residential properties. Instead of simply comparing the exclusive floor area, they are factoring in additional “service area” such as balconies, which can be utilized as actual living space. This competition to offer more service areas, which has been prevalent in the apartment market, is now emerging in the officetel market as well.

Officetels, which had previously been designated as commercial buildings under the Building Act, were not allowed to install balconies. This regulatory restriction made it difficult to design spaces that took advantage of additional service areas like apartments. This changed in February 2024, when amended officetel construction standards went into effect. With the deletion of the clause prohibiting balcony installations, officetels can now secure service space not included in the exclusive floor area.

Since then, medium and large officetels equipped with balconies have been appearing one after another in the presale market. For example, Mokdong Yoonseul Xi in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, offered balconies as a service, creating a larger living space and achieved a maximum competition rate of 32:1 during its application process in September. Industry insiders say that balconies are increasingly being recognized as a factor that narrows the commercial gap between officetels and apartments.

Daebang Construction's Okjeong Jungang Station The Atrium II (853 units), scheduled to open its model home in Okjeong New Town, Yangju, Gyeonggi Province on the 8th of this month, has also introduced a balcony design. All units are configured with a single exclusive floor area of 119 square meters (about 36 pyeong), and it is the first time that an indoor-style balcony has been introduced in Okjeong, Yangju. With approximately 36 pyeong for the exclusive area and an additional 5 pyeong service area from the balcony, the actual usable area is about 40 pyeong.

The balcony has been planned as a multi-purpose space that can be customized to suit different lifestyles. It can be used as a home bar, a pet room, a home garden for growing plants, or a home gym equipped with exercise machines. Balconies connected to the living room feature glass railings and full-length windows, and thanks to the building layout oriented toward Okjeong Lake Park, residents in select units can enjoy an expansive lake view even from inside their homes. The internal ceiling height is designed at 2.35 meters (2.5 meters including the recessed ceiling), enhancing the sense of space. Additionally, attic floors will be included in the top 18 units of each type.

This offering is notable in that it not only expands the area through the balcony space, but also allows the area to be integrated and used as part of the living space.

A representative from the sales team commented, “Now that balcony installations are possible in officetels, there is a much greater amount of space outside the exclusive area that can actually be used. As Okjeong Jungang Station The Atrium II is the first in Okjeong, Yangju to feature a balcony design, the service area increases the available living space and enables residents to configure it into a home bar, home gym, home garden, or any space that fits their lifestyle.”

The model home will be located in Okjeong-dong, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, and will be open starting from the 8th of this month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.