Latest news with #ArchitectureTalk:EvolvingHanok
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
'Hanok Avengers' on future of Korean architecture
Korea Herald's 'Architecture Talk: Evolving Hanok' raises hopes for hanok's future The Korea Herald's "Architecture Talk: Evolving Hanok" brought together a group of so-called 'Hanok Avengers' on Wednesday at the Eundeok Cultural Center — a beautifully restored, century-old building in central Seoul that exemplifies the elegance of traditional Korean architecture. Building on a six-part series titled "Evolving Hanok" published in May by The Korea Herald, the third edition of the annual "Architecture Talk" was jointly hosted with the state-run Architecture & Urban Research Institute. Dubbed the 'Hanok Avengers' by Shin Chi-hoo, manager and research fellow at the National Hanok Center, the speakers shared insights and experiences that reflected the current state -- and evolving identity -- of hanok in contemporary Korea. In addition to Shin, the event featured leading figures in the field: Hwang Doo-jin, director of Doojin Hwang Architects; Jeon Bong-hee, an architecture professor at Seoul National University; Cho Jung-goo of guga Urban Architecture; Kim Yong-mi, architect and CEO of GS Architects & Associates; and Daniel Tandler, co-founder of Urbandetail Architecture. 'The National Hanok Center had set the goal of achieving a hanok renaissance by 2022, but we failed. We will achieve that goal by 2032,' Shin said, emphasizing that many hanok neighborhoods have vanished under a development-first mindset. Still, the fact that such a goal could even be articulated marks a significant cultural shift. Over the past decade, the notion of a hanok renaissance has gained momentum, fueled by devoted architects, policy support and growing interest from younger generations. Kim, the panelist with the longest experience working with hanok, recalled once thinking her passion for traditional Korean architecture was just a personal preference -- one decidedly outside the mainstream. That changed when she came across architect Hwang Doo-jin's 2006 book, "Hanok Has Returned." 'I was shocked,' she said, adding that the book transformed her view, helping her realize that her passion was part of a larger, emerging movement. Kim also reflected on a small but meaningful gathering she had a decade ago with fellow architects Hwang Doo-jin and Cho Jung-goo -- all passionate about hanok. Since then, the small group of architects who are engaged seriously in hanok design has remained largely the same, Kim noted, except for one notable addition: Tandler. At the time, Tandler was just beginning to explore hanok. Today, he is recognized for his dedication to the form and his growing contributions to its evolution. "We need to worry less about making mistakes. As people do experiments with hanok, there will inevitably be some strange outcomes. And that's okay -- people can simply see them and move on," Tandler said. "Because building hanok is far from the futuristic images of sci-fi movies, there once was a time that I thought I wasn't taking part in building the future. I now believe we need to create new architectural spaces that align with the concepts and philosophies of our time -- spaces that even Millennials and Generation Z can appreciate," Cho said. The discussion also touched on key elements that define hanok and offered valuable insights for those still grappling with what the term truly means. Among those reflecting on hanok's evolving identity was Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli, the ambassador of Switzerland to Korea, who shared with the roughly 90 participants the embassy's experience of introducing the 'Swiss Hanok.' 'The Swiss Hanok' came about through an open architecture competition. 'At first, people told us, 'This is not a hanok,' because it wasn't built in the traditional way or linked to heritage hanok construction,' she explained. 'Yet the more I listened to this architectural debate on what hanok can become, the more I understood. People began referring to the embassy as the 'Swiss Hanok.' When you incorporate these elements — the madang, the light, the spatial flow -- there's also a kind of globalization aspect," Tartagli said. From the international community in Seoul, Michela Linda Magri, director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Seoul, and Marie Antonia von Schonburg, President & CEO of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were among those attending the event. Choi Jin-young, president of Herald Media Group, spoke about how his mood shifted upon entering the hanok. 'After going through all sorts of big and small meetings, by around lunchtime I often find myself completely drained. The workload is quite intense, and today was one of those days. But the moment I stepped into this place, all that fatigue just melted away. I felt an incredible sense of calm — as if I had arrived at a sanctuary for the soul,' he said. Choi Jong-bok, chairman of Zyx Technology, which was one of the sponsors of the event, expressed his confidence and aspiration to become a global leader in CAD solutions for architecture, especially for hanok. gypark@
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- General
- Korea Herald
Leading architects challenge hanok orthodoxy
Panel calls for evolution beyond traditional limitations as Korean culture gains global attention "Let's face it, hanok may never become fully mainstream again. But it remains an essential part of our architectural culture," said Daniel Tandler, co-founder of Urbandetail Architecture, whose contemporary interpretations of Korea's traditional housing have earned international recognition. The Eundeok Cultural Center in central Seoul was packed on Wednesday, with attendees spilling onto the floor of the century-old hanok building. They had come to hear six leading voices debate the future of hanok -- Korea's traditional wooden houses with their signature tiled roofs and central courtyards -- at "Architecture Talk: Evolving Hanok" jointly organized by The Korea Herald and Architecture & Urban Research Institute. Breaking from tradition A clear consensus emerged around the limitations of current approaches to hanok preservation and development. The discussion revealed broad agreement among experts that rigid definitions of hanok could prove detrimental to innovation. "Why must hanok have fixed definitions?" questioned Shin Chi-hoo, manager of the National Hanok Center. "No one defines apartments or single-family houses when selling them. Instead of seeking what makes hanok special, we should focus on how people actually live -- the relationships between spaces, what kind of life happens inside these places." Cho Jung-goo, architect of guga Urban Architecture, emphasized this point through his concept of "architectural reincarnation," describing how traditional Korean spatial arrangements persist across different materials and construction methods. "In Jeju, I observed traditional thatched houses alongside modern slab houses sharing nearly identical floor plans," he explained. "Traditional materials evolved into contemporary concrete construction. Hanok shouldn't remain static but continue evolving and being reborn." This flexibility extends to construction methods that allow for technological adaptation. In presentations preceding the panel discussion, each architect showcased projects that demonstrate contemporary adaptations of hanok's traditional elements: Tandler's steel reinforcement systems for structural integrity, Kim Yong-mi's hybrid wood-concrete construction methods, Hwang Doo-jin's integration of glass skylights within traditional wooden floor systems, and Cho's reinterpretation of traditional courtyard spatial arrangements for modern contexts. The current institutional framework reinforces creative limitations by enforcing technical requirements that projects must meet to qualify for subsidies, experts say. Seoul's hanok support initiative, for instance, requires "wooden architectural structures built on the basis of traditional Korean-style frameworks consisting of columns and purlins," language that panelists argued perpetuates orthodox standards and restricts experimental approaches. The panelists echoed broader frustration with widespread traditionalist expectations that hanok should preserve historical elements without any contemporary modification, an idea Tandler characterized as "Joseon-era (1392-1910) style obsession." "Some techniques are indeed worth preserving, but regarding the late Joseon-era formalities -- the hanok we live in today are far removed from those historical models anyway," he said. The urban question Despite agreement on the need for flexibility, the discussion exposed nuanced disagreements about hanok's role in urban landscapes. This tension centered on whether hanok should adapt to densely populated urban conditions or maintain certain characteristics that may limit widespread adoption. Understanding this debate requires a look at Seoul's unique housing landscape. The city houses approximately 10 million people in 605 square kilometers, with apartment complexes comprising over 60 percent of housing stock. These complexes, typically 15-25 stories high, house multiple families on small footprints while providing amenities and security that individual houses cannot practically match. Hwang and Kim advocated for multi-story hanok that could establish a more common presence in urban settings. "Multi-story development -- turning hanok into multiple floors -- is key," Hwang said. "Even two stories significantly raise density. If traditional neighborhoods had multi-floor hanok, they wouldn't have been completely razed for redevelopment." "Korea historically had different priorities -- less focus on wealth accumulation through property, which allowed for these unique single-story buildings," he added. "That worked well in the past, but it can't handle today's urban pressures. That's why hanok get torn down voluntarily, without any war or colonization forcing it." Kim went further in her presentation, envisioning "hanok cities" with five-story hanok buildings serving as police stations and fire departments. "Why not dream of hanok cities?" she asked. "This can be a healing project for Korea's damaged landscape." The preservation counterargument Tandler and Cho offered opposing perspectives, arguing that hanok's value lies precisely in qualities that resist urban adaptation. Tandler questioned the premise of mass adoption: "Korea's small hanok percentage won't create density problems. Hanok probably won't become mainstream anyway, so these talks about density aren't really necessary." His position reflects broader skepticism about compromising hanok characteristics for practical considerations: "If we focus too much on efficiency, why build hanok at all? It's like comparing handmade leather shoes with factory-made ones -- even with the same leather, they're completely different." Cho cautioned against equating higher density with progress, arguing that apartment complexes reduce community spaces while displacing long-time residents. "When they build apartment complexes, the number of households actually decreases, and they drive out many people. It's strange to call that increased density," he said. He drew parallels to historic preservation: "No one thinks we should increase density at Gyeongbokgung Palace just because Geunjeongjeon Hall is only two stories. Why should we treat hanok neighborhoods differently?" This perspective treats hanok as inherently limited in scale, valuable for its difference from mainstream housing rather than its potential to replace it. Tandler suggested this limitation enhances rather than diminishes hanok's significance: "Let hanok be hanok, and let our contemporary architecture incorporate and reinterpret hanok essence." Cultural renaissance The discussion concluded with reflections on Korea's evolving stature on the global stage and its implications for cultural identity. Several panelists noted how Korea's rapid rise in cultural influence -- from technology to entertainment -- creates new opportunities for architectural expression. Kim, who studied in Paris, reflected on changing perceptions: "Back in the days, people in Paris only knew Korea through images of tear gas and demonstrations. These days, everyone gathers around Korean students to see the latest smartphones and digital devices. Korea's status has risen that dramatically." She expressed cautious optimism about future developments: "I don't expect many more hanok to be built, but what I do see is a much deeper exploration of what Korean-style architecture really means." Cho articulated his vision for Korean architecture's future. "We have a creative calling -- something that hasn't emerged yet but needs to. Where will the biggest seeds for this come from? I am confident hanok will provide them." "Take Japan -- Japan established this foundation centuries ago, then developed it through various schools over 150 years. Now, Japanese architects naturally produce work that feels Japanese." For Korea, he suggested, "the future depends on us creating something similar -- but we're the ones who have to build it." moonkihoon@
