While a great deal of research has been done on the life history of the originator of the officetel, surprisingly very little research has explored the likely origins of the portmanteau. In 서울오피 , the term for officetel is seo-tong. In the United States however, the term “neotong” is used for the umbrella tree also known as the American officetel, California poppies or red poppies. It’s sometimes called the California poppy. Named after an American ornal painter, the name is derived from the fact that he used the poppies to decorate his back room. Poppies were originally brought to this country from China in the later nineteenth century by an art enthusiast, Edwin Cezanne. The widely recognized picture of the Chinese student-hummingbirds is based on his painting, “The Return of the Mandarin”, (1907).
It should be obvious that “Portmanteau” was not derived from hummingbirds but instead came from another lesser-known Asian herb. Ironically, the same plant (the scented oriental orriel), which is sometimes incorrectly called “ginseng”, provides the main source for the Korean popular tea, keoladeo. It’s often found in Korean residential architecture. However, while the herb does not share the name with the portmanteau, the similarities between the two Asian herbs do lead some to draw a parallel between the two Korean housing typologies.
Like most Korean house styles, the kitchen is where most of the action occurs in the home. In the traditional model, the kitchen is separated from the dining room – an office space typically devoted to preparing food for family meals – and the main room, or bungalow, by an adjacent stairway. The design rationale was to prevent the two rooms from competing for scarce kitchen space, which was often a premium in the colonial era. The kitchen/dining room border has been virtually erased in modern apartments, creating an expansive living space in addition to traditional areas.
Homemakers who are not skilled in homemaking may find it difficult to design a home that is functional and attractive. They may also need help from a housing architect. The officetel-style architecture found in Korean apartments allows for a wide range of design options that could be integrated into a typical kitchen. For example, most Korean condominiums have a “chard”-style tiered kitchen that is arranged in concentric circles. This gives the kitchen an almost botanical look. Some of the most common homemaking tools include the following:
The cast-iron fireplace is a traditional homemaker’s favorite. It consists of a stove, sometimes accompanied by small refrigerator, a cutting board, and several wooden spoons. In addition to the kitchen appliances, the cast-iron incendium can also serve as an art display or even a place to hang art pieces. Traditionally, the stove and its accompanying benches were located on the second level of the bungalow. These fixtures are very rare today, except for a few models made in modernist architecture and by highly-skilled manufacturers. Modernists seem to have managed to eliminate or minimize the traditionalist aspect of Korean homes.
The officetel, as it was originally introduced in Korea, can be considered as a form of the basic amenities that comprise the first line of support for any Korean residence: the portmanteau. While Korean hotels and ports don’t have the same regal splendor as medieval times, some still adhere to the standards of their predecessors. The bathroom and toilet are two examples of interior spaces that have been emphasized. They both feature large, porcelain-topped doors and beautiful etched and stained glass bottoms. These aren’t the only places where you can find these amazing works of art. The bungalow exteriors are often decorated in the exact same extravagant style.
You can see that the Koreans originally used the officetel to show their superior culture. Just like the bouquet of flowers or the mirror that a Korean lady will wear to present herself before her guests, the Korean officetel is an important part of Korean culture. You may want to add it to your home to make it more representative of the traditions of Korea. Visit the following website to learn more about Korean officetel tradition and etiquette.