Interviewe mat Seuk Hoon Kim

This year is my eleventh year of my career in the design industry. I'm currently the Director of seukhoonkim which is based in Seoul, Republic of Korea and New York, USA. Before that, I've earned my experience in Heehoon D&G and Ridge P&C of Seoul, Korea and SHoP Architects of New York; most recently as Senior Design Manager of Studio GAIA New York. I'm also currently the Creative Director of Studio GAIA Seoul for Asia and Pacific markets.

I've dreamed myself as a sculptor when I was little and started to think of three-dimensional objects. That idea and dream developed and started to think of the environment around me and my interest started to focus on Architecture and Interior Design.

Both technique and style are very important priorities as I do my design. Each needs to be balanced one another. The concept of the design is important to start off with as it's the main key point in the overall design. Configuring the right plans will lead the way of the design, and the construction detail is crucial in order to shape the design in real life.

Through many process and investigations, the moment of finding the right concept makes me very excited and happy.

Hard working will be the particular aspect of me. I try my best all the time in every parts in order to make shape of myself.

I really want to be a good designer. Especially since I'm back to my home town, Seoul, after long life in New York, I really want to be a designer who can promote as a representative of my country, Republic of Korea.

Be passionate and don't let your curiosity go away.

I cannot say I'm a successful designer yet, but definitely it is worth to make a good relationship with your employees your fellows and other designers.

I start my day with corresponding with my New York office through emails. With the discussion made earlier, I start working on the design works that need to be done. Some times sketches or even 3d rendering works and drawings to support my design.

I go through lots of websites showing new projects. That really helps me a lot.

I try to see how well balanced the design is.

When I'm satisfied, and there's no more chance that I need to think more on the design.

Few weeks ago, as I'm the Creative Director of Studio GAIA Seoul as well, I've opened a new W Hotel in Panama City, Panama. As influenced by the Panama culture spirit, it will be definite place to go to.

Nowadays, I love David Chipperfield's work. Simple, but powerful and the dominant of his spaces influence me a lot. Also, Neri & Hu's designs are my favorite as well. Their strong identity in the spaces really shocks me every time.

I love to experience culture in different cities and different countries. As by influenced from them, those thoughts help me a lot when designing my spaces.

I try to handle much as I can of the work load, so that my design can be expressed fully what I think as of. From sketches to drawings and to 3d renderings, I try to take care of much as I can in order to make sure my ideas come out to real life as close as possible.

As a Korean designer, I really will like to promote Korean culture through design to foreign countries and international market.

It was great to promote my project and let others enjoy what idea I have constructed. It was fascinating moment to see to exchange ideas and interactions through project.

I have started off my dreaming to be a sculptor when I was little, and wanted to study into that career. It was because I was interested in 3 dimensional objects. This thinking developed further more which I wanted to become an architect, specially focused in interior design where I can shape a space close with people.

New York and Seoul based award winning studio, seukhoonkim, integrates and collaborates various disciplines of design, wide range from space design such as architecture and interior design to design branding, marketing, and styling.

A gateway to express my thoughts.

Hospitality and F&B projects.

Amore Pacific Headquarters by David Chipperfield. The space tells it all.

a bathroom of Ando Tadao's building.

concrete, wood, stone

As how all my accumulated thoughts are developed to find a new idea.

The main concept and how details will be developed in order to fulfill the best in construction.

Gets sharp and excited as I develop my design.

Feels fascinating to see how my ideas in my head is now in front of my eyes.

Well balanced.

What will be the main concept and how that is well expressed.

To provide a better environment.

It is getting broader more and more. Many different styles will flourish all together.

Last exhibition was in Tokyo for IFFT. Next exhibition will IFFT as well in Tokyo in May.

Everyday, everything is my source of inspirations. I try to see things that are usual in an unusual way.

Simple yet strong. Vibrant and well balanced.

I used to live in New York and now in Seoul. Different cities and different culture really influence my design.

I work very closely and try to communicate with all the aspects that can shape the design.

Find the right style that will go well with the company and to communicate.

From investigating fully of the surroundings and the environment of the space, I try to add up the culture in the area and to fully elevate the positive aspect of the space.

Table lamp, tea candle holder, coffee pot, cup, and my sunglass.

Work, Work, Work

Dream big and experience the world when you have time. Really traveling is worth for having experience for your career as a designer.

Expressing what I think is the most positive aspect of being a designer. It's hard to find the right relationship with clients will be the negative.

The floor plan needs to be perfect in order to fulfill the space.

To imagine what you want to design visually in your head.

From hand sketch to rhino, 3ds max, photoshop, lightroom, indesign.

It needs to well thought out, determining every hour what to do and to accomplish that.

Depends on what project it is, but G House took about 6 months from design to construction. Bigger projects tend to get longer than that as new development projects can get to 2 to 3 years.

What kind of design am I?

Probably hotel projects, especially W Hotels of Mariott.

There are many private and corporate clients working together.

Hospitality projects. It's fascinating to see people how they enjoy in the space.

Along with seukhoonkim, I have been appointed as Partner and Creative Director of Studio GAIA Seoul this 2017. At Studio GAIA, I have been designing numerous fantastic hospitality projects, and now we are aiming for Asia market.

I usually develop the design on my own, and my team develops it and and details it out. I am always open for collaborations with other artists and designers as well.

As the Creative Director of Studio GAIA Seoul, there are some hotel projects coming up in Washington D.C., USA; Santiago, Chile; Incheon, Republic of Korea; and Turks and Caicos Island.

People can contact me to my email, seukhoonkim@gmail.com