AMES, Iowa — Work by 13 Iowa State University architecture students is part of the 4th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, one of the largest and most significant events in Asia that celebrates architecture and urban design projects, Sept. 1–Oct. 29 in Seoul, South Korea.

Their work will also be displayed locally from Oct. 9–13 in the Hansen Exchange, first-floor center space of the College of Design’s King Pavilion. The exhibition can be accessed by the public during normal building hours.

The students developed their project last spring in the Architecture 402 studio taught by architecture associate professor of practice Bosuk Hur. They created a proposal for a new, sustainable/green bridge across the Hangang River in Seoul that rethinks a bridge’s civic function and symbolism as urban infrastructure and serves as a mini-city for events, people and nature, Hur said.

Eight members of the class traveled to Seoul for a week in March through the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism Global Studio, which brought together studios from about 40 universities worldwide to discuss the future of megacities.

While in Seoul, students visited the bridge location, significant architecture and design projects and tourist sites to better understand the city and its culture. At Iowa State, all members of the studio worked individually, in small groups and finally together as a class to complete their final project, “The Woven City: New Infrastructure Proposal for Urban Fabric Connection,” which responds to this year’s biennale theme, “Land Architecture, Land Urbanism: Seoul’s Next 100 Years.”

They submitted their work electronically to the biennale organizer, who printed it for display in Seoul. It will also be published in a webzine and catalog.

“This opportunity not only allows our students to showcase their hard work and innovative thinking on a global stage but also grants them exposure to a diverse audience of experts, enthusiasts and peers,” Hur said.

The College of Design exhibition will feature students’ process and final drawings and models and a narrative video offering “a closer look at the ingenious concepts our students have developed,” he said.

Contacts

Bosuk Hur, Architecture, bhur@iastate.edu
Heather Sauer, College of Design Strategic Communications, 515-294-9289, hsauer@iastate.edu

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