SPACE August 2025 (No. 693)
View of the forum ‘Architectural Heritage and Assets’: Lee Kangmin (left), Ahn Inhyang (right). Image courtesy of piknic
‘The Autobiography of Hilton Seoul’, an upcoming exhibition focused on Namsan Hilton Seoul Hotel (designed by Kimm Jong Soung, 1983) is scheduled to be held at piknic in Sep. this year. The exhibition will mainly highlight the disappearance of architecture and its afterlife. A series of related pre-exhibition forums has been organised throughout July and Aug. There are five sessions planned in total. Among them, the first forum, ‘Architectural Heritage and Asset,’ was held on July 10 at piknic. The forum featured presentations by Lee Kangmin (professor, Korea National University of Arts) and Ahn Inhyang (officer, architectural asset policy team, division of hanok heritage and architectural assets, SMG).
This forum focused on establishing the notion of architectural heritage and assets, laying the groundwork for future discussions. The first presentation, delivered by Lee Kangmin, pointed out key moments in the development of architectural heritage. The initial idea behind the restoration of architectural heritage emerged in the nineteenth century. At the time, restoration was not understood as a matter of historical verification, but rather as the creative reconstruction of a ‘perfect’ state that had never actually existed. It was an opportunity for architects to find an outlet for their talents. In contrast, John Ruskin opposed restoration and instead assigned aesthetic value to the age of a building itself. His perspective was later conceptualised in the twentieth century as the idea of the ‘historic monument’. This notion, that preserving a building in its current state enhances its architectural value, became the foundation of modern conservation. The idea of protecting heritage is also closely tied to the rise of democracy. Lee explained that ‘during the French Revolution, as the French Revolutionary Government nationalised artworks and buildings formerly owned by the church, these structures began to be recognised as public heritage.’ This shift gave rise to a collective sense of responsibility and consensus that heritage belongs to citizens. Regarding contemporary approaches based on digital restoration, he expressed concern over the issue of authenticity and raised questions concerning ‘real’ restoration. Now a digital model identical to the original one, called digital twin, created through 3D scanning, can be easily reproduced by 3D printing. At the same time, however, he noted that restoration in virtual environments allows for playful transformations, and this could be an opportunity for a more positive reimagining of the architectural heritage.
The second part of the forum was given by Ahn Inhyang. She introduced Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG)’s exceptional architectural assets programme. According to Ahn, the Act On The Value Enhancement Of Hanok And Other Architectural Assets was enacted in 2014, and subsequently the SMG initiated a plan to expand its scope to modern and contemporary architectural assets. Over the three years, the city conducted a foundational survey and listed around 1,080 architectural assets, among which 13 were officially registered as exceptional architectural assets. This reflects a recent policy shift toward avoiding infringement of private property rights, transitioning to an owner-initiated application system. For registered properties, the city conducts research and documentation, provides financial support for maintenance and renovation, and even legalises certain minor code violations. Ahn also presented several notable cases that have been designated as exceptional architectural assets, including GongGongIlHo (formerly Samtoh Building), Daesun Flour Mills, Chebudong Holiness Church, and Sajik-dong House (designed by Kim Chungup). Lastly, she emphasised that the preservation and documentation of disappearing architectural heritage requires not only administrative effort but also continued attention from both the architectural community and the citizens who inhabit and use these spaces.
On July 17, the second forum was held under the theme of preservation and reuse of buildings from the 1960s to 1980s, featuring presentations by Lee Yeonkyung (professor, Yonsei University) and Hwang Doojin (principal, Doojin Hwang Architects). The forum series will continue throughout this Aug.
