Re:Form - New Life for Old Spaces competition 2nd Prize winners - Myongji University

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 2nd Prize winners of our Re:Form - New Life for Old Spaces competition – Lee Hyunwoo and Lee Hyeonbok from South Korea!

Lee Hyunwoo and Lee Hyeonbok

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

I do not have a company, as I am still a student. For me, architecture begins with understanding the life of the city and its people. I hope to design spaces that truly respond to the needs of the community and make everyday life a little better.

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 have worked on design projects at various scales, from small to large, but I always approach them with a consistent focus on understanding the city and the lives of its people. One representative project is the transformation of a school in a depopulated area into a regional cultural complex.

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

We believe that architecture is one of the means through which we can contribute to society. Although we are still students and cannot yet realize our ideas in practice, we are convinced that our ideas can represent a possibility, and we devote ourselves wholeheartedly to architectural design.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in competitions to embrace new challenges. Each architectural competition presents unique themes that inspire new questions and allow us to view architecture from fresh perspectives. This process helps us continue to grow and evolve.

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

Deciding whether to participate in an architectural competition can be challenging, but it is worth remembering that the true value often lies beyond winning. The very process of confronting new problems, formulating responses, and proposing creative solutions is itself a meaningful form of architectural exploration.