On November 11, Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) hosted the inaugural special lecture announcing the launch of the DBEW AWARD 2026. The DBEW AWARD is an international design award co-hosted by Italy's ADI Design Museum and Kookmin University. It aims to discover creative talents who harmoniously integrate Eastern and Western values and to present the future direction of global design education.

This special lecture, organized by Kookmin University's Oriental Culture & Design Center (Director Choi Kyung Ran) as part of the 50th Anniversary Art Exhibition of the College of Design, provided a platform to discuss the award's theme, ‘The Expandability of Future Design Education Beyond East and West,’ from an architectural perspective.

 

The defining feature of the DBEW AWARD is its focus on evaluating not only design outcomes but also the educational process, creative teamwork in teaching and learning, and social responsibility. Prior to the lecture, Director Choi Kyung Ran of the Oriental Culture & Design Center introduced the DBEW AWARD, stating, “It is the first award to evaluate and honor creative educational outcomes, recognize education and learning as design collaboration, and acknowledge the leadership of creative educators, with educators and students receiving the award jointly.” She further explained, “Its vision is to discover talents with convergent thinking who will lead the future design society in the AI era and to present a new direction for education.”

 

Architect Cho Byoung Soo, a judge for the DBEW AWARD 2026, conveyed his personal thoughts on the relationship between nature and architecture and human experience under the theme ‘Architecture of the Land’.

 

The highlight of the special lecture was a special dialogue between architect Cho Byoung Soo and Professor Lee Sang Hae, Chair Professor at Kookmin University. Moderated by journalist Lim Jin Young, the discussion delved deeply into modernism, Eastern philosophy, and the next stage for contemporary architecture. Both agreed on the necessity of an ‘integrative design paradigm transcending the boundaries between East and West.’

Cho Byoung Soo: “I am not a maker of forms, but a maker of experiences.”

During the discussion, Cho Byoung Soo spoke about his approach to work.

“I don't practice architecture that creates forms. I want to create experiences.”

He assessed that the chaotic formalism of postmodernism since the 1980s had actually obscured the ‘essence of architecture,’ emphasizing that the core of architecture lies not in its outward appearance but in its experiential structure.

Furthermore, explaining his work, he presented the minimization of artificial elements, the direct connection between land and structure, and the intention to blur the boundaries between nature and architecture as his core design philosophies.

 

Southcape: An ‘Experiential Device’ Between Nature and Architecture

The Southcape project was also mentioned during the discussion.

This project features seven buildings each positioned in a ‘tofu-like’ form.

Professor Lee Sang Hae assessed this, stating, “It is not a method of mimicking nature's forms with buildings. Rather, it creates spatial devices within which humans can experience nature.”

Cho Byoung Soo also explained that the core of Southcape is architecture functioning as a device to make nature appear more intensely.

 

Architecture, Nature, Human: An Era of Dissolving Boundaries

At the end of the discussion, Professor Lee Sang Hae pointed out a common trend emerging among architects today. “What stands out is not ‘erecting’ architecture upon the land, but a method of ‘placing it in between,’ blurring the boundaries with nature.”

Cho Byoung Soo responded, “That assessment itself is a great compliment,” and stated he would continue exploring architecture that redefines boundaries.

 

This dialogue between architect Cho Byoung Soo and Professor Lee Sang Hae transcended mere architectural design discourse, offering a meaningful exploration of the integration of Eastern and Western thought, experience-centered architectural philosophy, and the future direction of design. Both emphasized:

“We are now in an era not only of East-West fusion, but of a new design thinking that transcends both.”

 

DBEW AWARD Special Lecture Series: Design Education, Practice, Sustainability

This dialogue provided an opportunity to hear expert perspectives on the direction future design should take, as envisioned by the DBEW AWARD. The upcoming special lectures will span diverse fields including architecture, product, communication, and service design, serving as a platform to showcase innovative cases and philosophies in design-based education.

※ Special Lecture & Discussion YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE8gIWMHNAQ

※ Related Article: Design Jungle https://www.jungle.co.kr/magazine/206991

※ DBEW Award Planning: Oriental Culture & Design Center (www.ocdc.or.kr)

 

This content is translated from Korean to English using the AI translation service DeepL and may contain translation errors such as jargon/pronouns. If you find any, please send your feedback to kookminpr@kookmin.ac.kr so we can correct them.   View original article [click]