3 DAYS WITH AN ARCHITECT

One morning I left with the commuters to go to work, and took the subway across the river (though in the opposite direction to most). Koreans appear to commute like most everyone else, locked in their own little world, packed in tight - though portable televisions seem to be the object of attention. Every once in a while something or someone would soften these boundaries. Of all the preachers, pop-up tai-chi practisers and ankle sock salesmen, certainly the most heartwarming was the ripple effect of a baby's appearance. Men, women and children would come over all ga-ga.

Morning Commute - Photo by TD

There is something different to Seoul around Yangjae, perhaps it is because it is south of the Han, but perhaps it is that, having reached my stop on the bus, you are suddenly presented with a view to a mountain. It is as if Seoul stops. From here on the land returns to mountains.

Cheonggyeangsan Mountain - Photo by TD

I know that this is not actually true, but still I feel that this presence of mountain within the city centre, of nature as where civilisation is not, jutting into civilisation, must have some relevance to the psyche to the cities inhabitants. At the same time, one often finds the APT buildings jutting through a layer of trees in exactly the same way. Perhaps there is some strange juxtaposition of undeniable vertical elements within the city that Seoulites may be aware of at a subconscious level. This might lead me to hope that a vertical insertion of memorial may be more bearable but I will have to wait and see.

The purpose of this commute was to work for Jongwhan Ahn, at his practice in Yangjae, AN Architect. He had been invited to enter a competition to design an art gallery dedicated to the artist Whanki Kim in the village, on the island, where he grew up.

Eupdong-ri, Anjwa-myeon, Sinan County, South Korea - Site - Via Google Maps

Kim's artwork is dominated by the colours and shapes he was surrounded with growing up by the sea, and grew up obsessed with the ocean. This is somewhat apparent by looking at any of his paintings.

블루 시리즈 - Whanki Kim

So, by siting a gallery in his home village, it is hoped that visitors might gain some insight or context into the world this artist inhabited. Whether successful or not, the integration of the particular light, tone and landscape inherent to this island setting was essential to the competition design.

Whanki Art Gallery - Competition - AN Architect - visual by TD

After three days, the model, and visuals were finished. More than that, as we worked together, and talked together, and ate and drank together, I gained some insight or context into the world Jonghwan Ahn inhabited, and he mine.

Having studied and worked in London, not to mention actually being Korean, he is able to express Korea to me far better than my reading a book, taking a photograph or walking the city. Jonghwan Ahn has offered to assist in my development of 6 Feet Up, giving advice, explanation and assistance where he can. In so doing, he has become the first official Friend of 6 Feet Up.