Gangbuk-gu 'Design Journey with Architects' 1st Session 'Ho-eung'

May 10-25 Visits to Suyu Health Center, Gangbuk Disabled Welfare Center Annex, Seongbuk Seonjam Museum, Changdeokgung Palace
On-site tour with architect, Q&A on design intent and architectural process

“I wanted to become an architect, and now I feel one step closer to my dream.”

Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Lee Soon-hee) is receiving positive responses for the first session of the “Design Tour with Architects” program aimed at teenagers.

“Design Tour with Architects” is an educational program operated by Gangbuk-gu since last year to support career planning for high school students and others interested in architectural professions. The program features visits to recently constructed public buildings and famous architectural sites in Korea, where participants communicate directly with the architects responsible for each building to hear vivid explanations about the design intentions and construction processes.

In the first half of this year, about 20 high school students or teenagers applied, and the program was held over four sessions from May 10 to 25. The newly built public buildings in Gangbuk-gu included Suyu Health Center and the annex of Gangbuk Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled. Famous domestic architectural sites visited were the Seongbuk Seonjam Museum, which won the 2022 Korea Public Architecture Award, and Changdeokgung Palace, one of the five major palaces of the Hansung Fortress and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Participants enjoyed engaging meetings with the architects in charge.

The education was conducted by touring the public buildings with the architects who designed them, viewing design blueprints, and listening to detailed explanations. After the lectures, there was a Q&A session where participants could ask questions about everything from design to completion.

The participating teenagers broadened their understanding of the Gangbuk-gu area and public architecture at Suyu Health Center and the annex of Gangbuk Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled. At the Seongbuk Seonjam Museum, they learned about spatial design in public architecture. At Changdeokgung Palace, they attended lectures on the geographical location and pavilion designs of the five major palaces of Hansung Fortress, feeling pride in traditional Korean architecture. The experience was made even more enjoyable as the teenagers wore traditional costumes while visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Changdeokgung Palace.

A first-year student from Changmun Girls’ High School said, “I learned that architecture must be designed with consideration of the surrounding environment and space. Touring the buildings with the architects and hearing their explanations made the education feel very immersive and engaging.”

Other participants shared their thoughts, saying, “I became interested in eco-friendly architectural design,” “The Q&A session was ample and the answers were detailed, which I appreciated,” “I developed an interest in public architecture,” and “The program was really great, and I want to recommend it to my friends.”

Meanwhile, the district plans to hold the second session of the Design Tour with Architects program in October to November.

Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “For students to find and achieve their dreams, it is essential to have opportunities to learn about and experience various professions. We will continue to operate diverse career planning education programs for the future generations of Gangbuk-gu, and we hope many teenagers will show interest and participate.”