Architecture competition Great Kemeri Bog Visitor Center honorable mention - Lawrence Kim / A+U LAB

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winners of one of our Honorable mentions for the “Great Kemeri Bog Visitor Center” competition - Lawrence Kim / A+U LAB from Korea!

Lawrence Kim / A+U LAB from Korea

Lawrence Kim / A+U LAB is a design collective and collaborative practice for architecture and urbanism. Established and led by Lawrence Kim, AIA, LEED AP, an architect and professor at Pusan National University, the studio engages in diverse projects through design consultancy and research.

Prior to establishing his studio and joining academia as faculty at Pusan National University, Lawrence practiced architecture and urban design for nearly 25 years, based in New York City working regionally and internationally. Heeseung and Kyungha graduated from Pusan National University, and Donghoon and Heepyo are current students at the University. Since 2015, the architects have engaged in a multi-disciplinary collaboration on architecture, urban design and installation projects, building a reputation for creative and thoughtful work. The studio’s projects have been widely recognized and published, with over thirty international design awards.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where company/ individuals have been involved?

The studio’s recent works include a wide variety of project types including development master plans, high-rise commercial towers, cultural venues, university buildings, urban plaza transformation and lobby installation.

Centered on contemporary practice, we approach design at multi-scalar levels studying the issues arising within and at the intersection of architecture and urbanism. Architecture is examined as a spatial, perceptual and cultural discipline addressing programmatic and contextual issues, and urbanism is examined as the study of how inhabitants of cities interact with the built environment. Urban design, a direct component of urbanism, moves beyond the study of urban space as the practice that actively shapes the urban areas and the city with systems of strategies and interventions that integrate people with the built environment.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

To put it simply, we see design as the means to envision a better-built environment and to initiate great transformation. We place emphasis on an evidence-based approach and strive to produce innovative works that are grounded in meaningful and lasting ideals.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

It provides an opportunity to explore theoretical ideas in practical terms.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture vision competitions?

If it interests you, why not? You will have fun.