We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our “Monte D'Oiro Wine Tasting Room” competition – Ju Seok Park from Korea!

Ju Seok Park from Korea

Ju Seok Park from Korea

From entering the University of Architecture in 2008 to the present, I have continued to study architecture and design. I have a bachelor's and master's degree from the Department of Architecture, Se-Jong Campus, Hong-Ik University in Republic of Korea, and have about 4 years of practical experience in an architecture office located in Seoul. I mainly work on private residences and small apartment projects. I am participating in various design competitions outside of the company to which I belong to increase my own ability until I open a private office. As a young architect, I haven't reached the limit, and I'm looking for a unique style and identity that only I can express.

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?

The projects that the company is working on in practice are mostly single-family homes for individuals or families. Although it is a limited program of residence, housing that needs to reflect the propensity and needs of each individual owner should be considered in detail. Plan and elevation planning, as well as the thickness and spacing of the reinforcing bars, the opening direction of the windows, the interior of the various materials and lighting, and hardware accessories must be clear and integrated.

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

The most important things are empathy for users who will experience the space and imagination that does not limit any possibility of the building to be built on the ground. Architects should use these two abilities to have a positive impact on human behavior.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

In practice, I have to fight the laws and regulations of the community, face a limited budget, and suffer emotional sentiment by the owner. I left the real world for a moment and participated in the competition to ask myself questions. This is like participating in an F1 match. I wanted to get out of the city streets where I had to commute, and run the autobahn at unlimited speed.

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

Participating in a competition means that many designers have a deep concern for a single topic over a period of time. Each designer submits the best possible alternative from some of the alternatives available on the site. In addition, several works judged to be suitable for the subject are selected and judged and released to the public. My work may or may not be on the list. If it's the latter, it may hurt for a while. But, more importantly, you can read the thoughts of others projected on selected works. Rather than accepting the results, I feel that I didn't think about it in the process and that I was limiting the possibilities myself.

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