Architect Kim Bong-ryol recounts history of Korea’s architecture
Architecture may be an unfamiliar and challenging talking point for many, but architect Kim Bong-ryol can help encourage appreciation of the subject.
Kim, president of the Korea National University of Arts, gave a lecture on the history of Korea’s architecture at Hungarian Ambassador Mozes Csoma’s residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on Tuesday.
“Looking back on Korean history, different eras valued different architectural aspects. Some appreciated technology, while others put more emphasis on art or space,” Kim said during the Corea Image Communication Institution (CICI) forum. The CICI is a global cultural promotion organization.
Kim also explained the architectural features of the nation’s traditional constructions, including “seowon,” Korean neo-Confucian academies.
The architect — who designed Korea’s National Guesthouse in Seoul and the Korean Garden in Frankfurt, Germany — also delivered his thoughts on undesirable design.
“I think the worst design comes with arrows that show people the way (to their destinations),” he said. “A construction should be made in a way that people instantly know where to go, instead of seeking instructions.”
Prominent guests including New Zealand Ambassador Philip Turner, Kuwaiti Ambassador Bader Mohammad Al-Awadi and International Vaccine Institute (IVI) Deputy Director General Francois Belin attended the event.