Architecture competition Great Kemeri Bog Visitor Center Green award winners - Jinsoo Kim and Dalya Ortak

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winners of the Green award of our “Great Kemeri Bog Visitor Center” competition - Jinsoo Kim and Dalya Ortak from Germany!

Green award winners from Germany

Jinsoo: I was born in Busan, South Korea and moved to Germany to study architecture where I graduated from Bauhaus University in Weimar and studied for my postgraduate at Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design. For one year I have worked in an architecture office in Stuttgart.

Dalya: I was born in the Calw in Germany. I graduated this year from the College of Technology (HfT) in Stuttgart and recently started my Master ́s degree at the University Stuttgart.

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?

Jinsoo: Previously I was working in the competition section of my office and I got involved in a variety of different projects, from commercial buildings to residential developments for private clients.

Dalya: During my Bachelor’s degree I worked for a variety of offices in Germany and Switzerland. I mostly took part in public projects on a cultural and national scale. 

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

Jinsoo: For first question, for me architecture represents an intervention. Architecture is a complex process including many participators with different backgrounds of knowledges and interests. Therefore I think we should act more as coordinators of different needs, fields and people during the construction process. In the role of some kind of interface we try to find solutions for any societal issue.

Dalya: From my point of view architecture is an opportunity to take part and shape our environment. The aim should be to improve the surroundings for our society and also to respect environmental issues. Architecture should not be viewed as a kind of object or sculpture, it should be for its users and inhabitants. Unfortunately, there are many architects who forget about that necessity. We should never fail to remember that we are responsible for every action and its consequences.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Jinsoo: We always wanted to work together and then this competition came up. The matter was interesting so we thought we should give it a try.

Dalya: Additionally it was a great opportunity to practice the design process. Learning by doing, right? :)

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

Jinsoo & Dalya: Just do it! It can be a lot of fun and the design process is really free and without any barriers.