Architect of technology and art on display 테크놀로지와 예술의 조화_ 건축가 김종성

Korean architecture has seen different trends over the year, but one architect has achieved the ability to create timeless works.
Our Yim Yoonhee takes a look at this pioneer architect.
These sharp angles and precise lines may look a bit cold and unfamiliar, but to its creator it′s considered art.
That′s because Kimm Jong-soung is considered one of Korea′s most brilliant architects,... each one of his creations undeniably a work of art,... just not in the conventional sense.
But how can something so formulaic,... so black and white,... so calculated be considered art?
"Science, technology, and art are all key and the use of structure in a technological way with art is fundamental to architecture. Professor Kimm is a master at this and his work from the 70s and 80s still hold their fundamental place in today′s world."
Over the last 50 years, Kimm has been creating one of a kind buildings, found throughout the country, even abroad,... each holding true to his stylistic trait where technology and art are interchangeable, resulting in a timeless masterpiece.
Whether it be an iconic luxurious hotel, or an office for thousands of workers, each building requires an exact calculation, so exact,... it has to be an art.
And to stick with his philosophy, of creating a space where material, structure, and proportion are all equally as important as the ability to capture a sense of the natural,... he′s had to sometimes take rather unusual approaches.
For example, a building in Korea used in the 1988 Olympics measures in at 60 meters by 80 meters,... a huge expanse of a building, but back then Kimm didn′t want people to be weaving in and out of support beams,... so to support such a large size Kimm had to turn to technology.
"With the Weightlifting Gymnasium for the ′88 Olympics, we had to use extensive calculations and technology to supporting the long-span structure of the building, in order to allow for natural wide empty spaces. And with the Wooyang Art Museum, I needed technology in order to anticipate all the natural factors, such as sunlight, temperature, and humidity in order to control them for a comfortable building."
As timeless as Kimm′s pieces are, they′re also landmarks in Korea′s landscape, recognizable by the millions who encounter Seoul.
His classic yet modern style is something many future generations of architects can refer to, while still be appreciated by the people of today.
Yim Yoon-hee, Arirang news.