This study looks into the architectural tour as a practice of modernity conducted around 1990 when the social change in Korea was dramatic. Some groups highly interested in the formation of discourse on modern Korean architecture pursued both personal...
This study looks into the architectural tour as a practice of modernity conducted around 1990 when the social change in Korea was dramatic. Some groups highly interested in the formation of discourse on modern Korean architecture pursued both personal experience and group objective at the same time by planning a tour with a clear theme and promoting prominent figures in architecture. It is required to understand the complex characteristics of the architectural tour that tour experience and representation should have examined in the close association with the Korean path to modernization. Thereby, this study finally aims to identify the process that architectural discourse created by individual architect embodies universality in the article, exhibition, publication and discusses the possibility of overcoming its limitation.
Before looking into the major study objective including Hanssem Architecture Tours and 4.3 Architecture Tours the universal topic of the tours ‘self-overcoming of architects’ should be described and the particular historical context of the reality in Korea should establish. First, analyzing historical cases of the architectural tour identified the effects occurred by the different experiences of modernization on tour experience. Following that, focusing on the Korean modernization, the phenomenon is also examined that the emergence of individuals and the aspect of exploring personal identity when South Korea turned to the democratic society in the late 1980s. At the same period, particularly in the field of Korean architecture, collective movements were conspicuous. The senior groups in architecture began to self-overcoming from repenting of the past when the phenomenon that architecture had been consumed as a political tool and expression in the course of modernization from the 1960s to 1970s. This awareness served as a driving force of group activity. Meanwhile, as a deduced result of repeated field trips in the academic field, it had a new understanding that traditional architecture has sensuous exterior spaces. A field of discourse was emerging due to rising media outlets such as architecture journalism and printing agency. The time background of the architectural tour formed.
By analyzing Hanssem Architecture Tours and 4.3 Architecture Tours programs planned and implemented under this background, every coordinator of both tours set a topic on overcoming the chaotic situation caused by the Korean modernization process and created a common knowledge to participants by holding seminars with appropriate experts of architecture, arts and culture. Participants of Hanssem Architecture Tours examined the possibility of modern interpretation of Korean traditional architecture and applicability to contemporary architecture. In the tour seminar, diverse interpretations were attempted to divert from discussion leaning towards the style of traditional architecture. Universal features inherent in traditional architecture were highlighted such as focusing on the composition of external space or encouraging to understand it as a spiritual outcome. 4.3 Architecture Tours explored the fundamental value of modern architecture. Architects in the 4.3 group, while pondering over the possibility of autonomous architecture beyond authority, confirmed that the authenticity in architecture could be practicable when they accomplish creative spirit and expression after experiencing the architectural tour. Each participant of both tours reached the level of experiencing the spiritual value inherent in architectural space and understanding the importance of an architect's reinterpretation in reality. However, reflecting this understanding to their practice was at different levels.
Ultimately, the architectural tour could be significant with representing individual experiences of architectural space situated in its specific environment via media by each participant. Thereby, the participant as an architect could establish and theorize his/her architectural philosophy and communicate with the public to form a discourse. Therefore, this study analyzes writings after Min Hyun Sik who had established his architectural philosophy took journeys through Hanssem Architecture Tours and 4.3 Architecture Tours. Min personally continued to perform architectural reflection by focusing on the exterior space of traditional architecture and the view of nature. Min elaborated his thinking by accumulating his tour experiences. He created new images by citing and editing photos and literary works that demonstrate his experiences and obtained singularity by connecting them with his architectural works. Meanwhile, he extended his architectural philosophy by extracting conceptual terms or issues from tour seminars. He attempted to cast doubts the knowledge system from the West and interpret it by himself. Consequentially, he could discuss the paradox of Korean architecture triggered by modernity and the possibility of overcoming it.
Hanssem Architecture Tours and 4.3 Architecture Tours were conducted in the transitional period of the Korean society and served as plans to explore and discover the discourse of modernity. It thus implied that the viewpoint formed that Korean architects could discuss the universality in architecture with their own. Most tour participants had published their thinking repeatedly and adopted tour experiences as proof to theorize their architectural philosophy. Meanwhile, the similarity of architectural concept or theory among architects who shared experiences was pointed out as a constraint of the group tour program. It could be considered a particular phenomenon in the transitional period and the reality of modern Korean architecture.