INTERVIEW 25 French architects find dynamics of Korea in modern architecture
Ssamzigil in Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, is a culture and shopping complex that has a unique design with a theme of path. “Gil” means path in Korean. Kang Min-hee, author “Bonjour Korean architecture” and 25 French architects visited 25 Korean modern architecture sites including Ssamzigil during their 10-day journey to Korea in fall 2013. Courtesy of Artbooks
By Jung Da-min
Korea's national image is often represented by some specific Korean foods, popular culture or ancient traditions such as pansori music.
But the real life of Koreans is much broader than these representations, says Kang Min-hee, a Korean architect in Paris.
Kang Min-hee, author of “Bonjour Korean architecture.” Korea Times photo by Jung Da-min
“A traditional pansori performance has been included at almost every cultural event commemorating Korea-France diplomatic relations and it was good, but made me wonder if we only had pansori to represent Korean culture,” the architect, 37, told The Korea Times during an interview at her Seoul office on Jan. 3.
“The popular K-pop group BTS or other K-dramas receive much attention from the younger generation, but as part of the generation in between, I don't empathize with it.”
Kang, now with YOAP architects, a three-member design band based in Seoul and Paris, studied architecture at Korea University and Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Architecture de Paris―Val de Seine.
In 2012, she discovered a way to offer a different visualization of Korea's image.
“My then boss Helene Fricout-Cassignol talked to me about her two weeks in Korea and it struck me that this Korea was different from the one I knew as a native and with which I was familiar,” Kang said. Kang was working at the office of Helene Fricout-Cassignol Architectes at the time.
Fricout-Cassignol talked about staying at a temple in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province.
“The floor was hot inside the temple but she could feel the cool of the wind when she opened the window,” Kang said. “It gave her the image of Korea being cool and hot, which is found among the people as well as in the architecture.”
Fricout-Cassignal recommended that the Maison de L'architecture d'Ile-de-France (MA), a government-funded organization of 10,000 architects in Paris and nearby areas, should choose Korea for its fifth annual overseas trip. After Korea was chosen, Kang was chosen to guide 25 architects from France around her home country.
In October to November 2013, Kang and the delegation visited 24 styles of architecture around Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Jeju, designed by Korean and foreign architects.
Most of their visits were to galleries or museums, but also included landmark places like Cheonggye Stream and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul.
In her book about their 10-day trip, published recently under the title “Bonjour Korean architecture,” Kang said she wanted to present Korea's own dynamics and energy through modern architecture. Ahn Chung, 37, a freelance illustrator who studied architecture at Jeonnam University and Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Architecture de Paris―Val de Seine, drew illustrations for the book published by Artbooks last November.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul / Courtesy of Artbooks
Cheonggye Stream in Seoul / Courtesy of Artbooks
Twenty-five French architects visit Ewha Womans University in Seoul on Nov. 1, 2013. Courtesy of Kang Min-hee
Richard Riff, a French delegate, is quoted in the book:
“Foreigners coming to Seoul are not looking for vertical lights as in Hong Kong, nor will they come to see the mysterious Buddhist temple as in Bangkok. It is unstable but massive energy from the challenging city striving for a future that makes foreigners to come to Seoul.”
The group found that Korea's architecture had made harmony out of chaos, with a modernity that melted into its surroundings.
Gangnam was a perfect example of such “planned chaos” as it sums up Korea's economic growth since the 1960s.
The Anne Demeulemeester Shop in Gangnam, Seoul / Courtesy of Artbooks
Yann Caclin, another delegate, said Seoul looked like “a future city that has run ahead of time.”
The most impressive place to Kang, the host, was the Biotopia museum that shows the beautiful nature of Jeju Island, represented by water, wind and stone. Korean-Japanese architect Itami Jun designed the building.
The Water Museum is part of three art museums in Biotopia on Jeju Island designed by Itami Jun. Courtesy of Artbooks
“He was a person living on the borderline between Japan and Korea and it appealed to me as I am also on the borderline majoring in architecture and French literature and as a Korean architect living in France.” Kang said. “Every person is on the borderline in their own way, and this means a lot to the younger generation who have more opportunities to go abroad.”
Kang said that as a young female architect, her goal is to bridge Korean and French culture through architecture and to be a role model for the younger generation in Korea.