Tell us a bit about yourself! Where are you from? Why are you here in Prague?
I’m Korean, but I lived half of my life in Thailand. Prague has always been my dream city from when i was a little kid (don’t know why, it sounded romantic and cool). I found my current school and came here to attend it. But frankly, I’m here for the beer.
Did you always want to be an architect/designer?
I did from early teen years, but only because I liked the sound of it. ‘Architect’ or ‘architecture’ sounded cool as a kid not really knowing what they do or what it even is. The interest slowly grew on me as I aged, and I knew I wanted to do it and keep doing it when I started studying architecture.
Why did you choose ARCHIP?
Honestly, I didn’t know about it until I did some research online to see if there was any school teaching architecture in English in Europe. ARCHIP was one of the very few I found and since it’s in Prague, it was a perfect choice for me at the time.
What do you major in/what part of your studies do you enjoy most?
Architecture, and it’s weird to say (besides coming up with crazy concepts and making endless amount of drawings and models) I enjoy pulling all-nighters with my friends half panicking and half dead, but it’s the whole experience you go through together.
What gets you most excited about architecture and design?
Coming up with a concept, which might be crazy and impossible, but making it work in the end is most exciting for me.
How did you come to be involved in Design Disco?
I saw quite a lot of DD workshops at ARCHIP, which intrigued me the most and I thought it would help with my inability to speak well in public.
Is there any particular workshop or seminar you have a particularly fond memory of?
My very first workshop as an instructor was definitely one of the most memorable workshops. I feel like i learned as much, if not more, as the students. It’s a lot different when you’re in a position where you have to show what you know and learned in your past experiences because it could be a big influence on how they will see things.
What advice would you give to students out there who are considering a career in design or architecture?
I say just do it. Many people will tell you it’s tough, a lot of work, and many other aspects that will make you doubt, but in the end it’s all about you. If you know what you want, that’s great. If you don’t, just go for it and decide if it is for you because it’s never too late to change and explore. Honestly though, studying architecture was one of the best decisions I made for myself.
Where do you see yourself in your future career?
One day, I would like to do some doodling on some tissue paper and hand it to my ‘team’ and watch it get built without having to consult with others about how my design wouldn’t work or would have to change.
Where do you see the city of Prague in the future?
I hope it stays the way it is now. I love this city for its history, raw culture and architecture.