Architecture Competition Kurgi Observation Tower Honorable mention – Jinwoo Kim

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our “Kurgi Observation Tower” competition – Jinwoo Kim from the United States!

Jinwoo Kim from the United States

I recently graduated from Harvard Graduate School of Design with a master’s in architecture and am currently working as an architectural designer in the Boston area. I started my architectural education in South Korea and moved to the US in 2017.

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 the company/individuals have been involved?

I am interested in visualizing an innovative type of architecture and experimenting with unique possibilities and values. I view the projects I've done so far in school or in competitions as an experimental series of developmental processes undertaken to deepen my interests. To date, I have preferred to design single, small-scale objects, since I think it is easier for me to be more experimental while configuring its values within a small scale.

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

Architecture is the most fun thing to me. My passion for architecture has roots in my hobby of paper folding. By creating and transforming an entity through a series of operations, I found the joy of imagining a distinctive form and a creative space. I don't believe architects can solve all the problems in the world, but they can make our world more fun.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

The most important reason why I participate in architecture competitions is to keep being creative. I can experiment however I want with less constraint than in professional practice.

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

My favorite part when I participate in competitions is to see other contestants’ work after the results come out. It is an invaluable experience to explore how other designers think about the same subject, given the same conditions as me. If another contestant’s work is better than mine, I can learn more from them. If mine is better than theirs, I may find gratification through winning the competition. So there’s nothing to lose. For those who hesitate to participate in competitions, I would say, don’t mind the competition result. Wish for your fellow designers to submit outstanding work from which you can learn and just hope your work is slightly better than theirs.