The Home of Shadows #4 competition Honorable mention winner - I Gyeom Jung

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winner of our The Home of Shadows #4 competition – I Gyeom Jung from South Korea!

I Gyeom Jung

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 received my Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Keimyung University in South Korea in 2025. I am currently working as a full-time employee at an architectural firm in Seoul, South Korea.

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 part of a team at an architectural firm, where I primarily work on residential complex projects. In addition, I pursue small-scale architectural projects independently. I carry out design and research on my own, ranging from single-family houses to small residential developments. Breathing Mound Dwelling, submitted to the INSECTITECTURE competition, is a small-scale passive residential complex inspired by termite mounds in Africa. It explores how the environmental strategies of insect colonies can be adapted to create more favorable living conditions for human habitation.

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

I am focused on sustainable architectural systems. Significantly reducing the energy consumption required to operate buildings is critically important from a future-oriented perspective. I believe that there exists an ultimate architectural form that can enrich living environments with little to no energy use on its own. I also believe that such ideal architecture can help improve challenging living conditions around the world. I see the role of an architect as improving the lives of people in harsh environments. Even if the beginning is small, I believe that the accumulation of modest ideas will ultimately lead to meaningful and positive outcomes for both people and the planet. This belief is what drives me forward.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Just as climbers ascend a mountain because it is there, architects participate in competitions because there are questions worth contemplating and researching. I also take part in this process to gain new insights, refine my ideas, and share the results with others. I have been inspired by the work and writings of many people, and I have continued my architectural journey based on those influences. With the hope that my ideas may, in turn, inspire someone else, I will continue to pursue architecture.

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

When considering participating in a competition, you may sometimes worry, “What if I don’t win any awards?” There is no such thing as “success and failure,” only “success and the process that leads to success." Through these process, strive to achieve your own version of success.