HEESOO KWAK

 

principal, IDMM architects

 

Since founding IDMM Architects in Seoul in 2003, architect Kwak Hee-Soo has consistently pursued architectural practice that embodies publicness within private land, based on the concept of “K-POPS” (Korean Privately Owned Public Spaces). In his recent project, UP SQUARE, he introduced a “Private Park” that anyone can freely access, presenting a new interpretation of publicness in architecture.

He has also contributed to JoongAng Ilbo as a columnist for Architect Kwak Hee-Soo’s Short Stories of the City. His major awards include the Architizer A+ Awards (2024), the Architecture Master Prize (2023), the American Architecture Gold Prize (2016), seven-time winner of the World Architecture Award, the A-Awards by ARENA HOMME+ (2017), the Proud Hongik Alumni Award (2016), the Korea Institute of Architects Award (2024/2016), the Architectural Institute of Korea Award (2023), the Korea Architecture Award – Presidential Prize (2016), and three time of Prime Minister’s Prizes.

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곽희수는 2003년 서울을 기반으로 이뎀건축사사무소(IDMM Architects)를 설립한 이후, ‘K-POPS’ (Korean Privately Owned Public Spaces) 개념을 바탕으로 사유지 내 공공성을 담아내는 건축을 꾸준히 실천해왔다. 최근작 UP SQUARE에서는 시민 누구나 자유롭게 접근할 수 있는 ‘Private Park’를 선보이며, 건축의 공공성에 대한 새로운 해석을 제시하고 있다.

그는 중앙일보 <건축가 곽희수의 단편 도시> 칼럼니스트로 활동한 바 있으며, 주요 수상 경력으로는 아키타이저 A+ 어워드(Architizer A+ Awards 2024) , 아키텍쳐 마스터 프라이즈(Architecture Master Prize 2023), 아메리카 아키텍쳐 골드 프라이즈(American Architecture Gold Prize 2016), WA 건축상(World Architecture Award) 7회 수상, A-Awards (ARENA HOMME+ 2017), 2016 자랑스러운 홍익인상, 2024/2016 한국건축가협회상, 2023 대한건축학회 작품상, 2016 한국건축문화대상 대통령상, 한국건축문화대상 국무총리상 3회 수상 등이 있다.