From Singapore to Seoul: Thoughts of An Architecture Student.

This is a special report from an architecture student who is in Seoul for an exchange programme. If you are on exchange and studying architecture, do send us a short write-up reflecting on your experience and we can share it with others on the FIVEFOOTWAY. Email your write-ups to office[at]fivefootway.com and don’t forget to send a few images that best captures your experience!

By Neo Di Sheng, National University of Singapore -  Hanyang University

On Internship

On the 25th of July, 17 NUS Architecture students came to Seoul on the SEP between NUS and HYU (Ansan). The programme included an opportunity to intern at some of Korea’s leading architecture firms, the likes of Space group, Woonyang and Yujin. It was an interesting experience, my 2-month internship at DP Architects, provided me with basis for comparison and plenty of food for thought.

Being a Singapore architectural intern in Seoul, a place where limited English is spoken (a general observation, as some Koreans speak fluent English), I was expecting to gain a lot of fresh experience. Attending meetings at work always reminds me of watching foreign films without subtitles, which results in a struggle to stay conscious. The importance of language as a tool of communication cannot be more apparent in my days interning at Space group.

It may be redundant but I have to remark that Koreans work very differently from Singaporeans. Here, they do not rush to complete work to the extent of skipping meals. Instead, they have proper meals and rest before continuing their work. Also, they are the most jolly and cheery people to work with; there is always plenty of jokes going around. Plus, as my internship period coincided with the Beijing Olympics, there is constant chatter about the latest South Korean Olympic medal or that cute swimmer Park Tae Won.

Picking up the formalities of the Korean working environment is one of the more interesting things I got to experience there. It is important to blend in with their culture if one wishes to be considered as an intern and not as a tourist in the workplace. Even though, at the end of the day, the lingering fact that I cannot speak Korean prevents me from contribute more to the team, the time I spent there was a rewarding one.

On the start of school

Our campus, strictly speaking, is not located in the metropolis that is Seoul. Hanyang University (Ansan) is found a peaceful distance away from the hustle and bustle of the urban city. Instead of the densely packed schools and faculties of NUS, we were pleasantly greeted by the wide, open spaces in Hanyang University. Granted, geographical conditions are not in Singapore’s favour but the change in physical environment definitely has a positive effect on us.

In NUS, we are fortunate that the department outsources the menial task of rearranging the studio furniture and cleaning up our studios. The students of HYU Architecture Faculty have to kick off their semester with a major “spring cleaning” exercise. Before the studio sessions start off proper, they would have already brought their desktops to school and their own printers. In NUS, we have the luxury of desktops being provided for us (even though not one for everyone), and the all-important Scalebar (a school funded printing service that is operated by students). In this school, the students practically run and upkeep the place. The administration office consists of but two staffs. There is no IVLE, so the students create their own version of an online network where the professors can upload files for them to download. The initiative and drive that Korean students show definitely left an impression on me.

The manner in which studios are conducted in Hanyang University is very similar to what we have in NUS. The students will present their work to their respective tutors and there will be a feedback session. The only notable difference is that, in HYU, the studio sessions have to fit the tutor’s timing, which means that studio sessions vary according to the tutor’s schedule or preference. Otherwise, the official studio times are 9am to 1pm every Tuesday and Thursday. In NUS, we can usually count on studio timings to be between 2 to 6pm every Monday and Thursday.

The assignment that we been given this semester is a two-part project. We are given five weeks to come up with a master plan and site model for the Gwanghwamun Plaza cultural corridor in Seoul. The remainder of the semester will be devoted to designing a new building in the site. The scale of the design is, by far, the largest that we have had to work with. The unique geographical conditions and urban traits of Seoul present us with the opportunity to work outside of the usual design limitations that we experience in Singapore.

The first two weeks in HYU has been a promising start to a rewarding semester and fruitful exchange experience. More importantly, we have found friends in the Korean students who have gone out of their way to render us help time and time again.

Here are more images for viewing pleasure.