Hyon-sob Kim
in Case Studies in Architecture and Landscape: Expanding the Legacy of Peter Blundell Jones (J. Woudstra and X. Ren, eds.)
London: Routledge, 2025
Abstract: This chapter investigates one of the most prominent examples of modern architecture in Korea, the Space Group of Korea Building or SGK Building (1971–1977) in Seoul – the architect Swoo-Geun Kim’s (1931–1986) magnum opus. This brick-clad mid-rise office block consists of the first or original building (1971–1975) and its extension (1976–1977). The reason for its acclaim is its elaborately composed spaces that connote the spatial concept of traditional Korean architecture, particularly in relation to Kim’s idea of ‘Ultimate Space’ (1971). The building and the Ultimate Space concept not only marked a turning point in the architect’s personal career, but it also signified that the main discourse of Korean architecture had shifted from form to space. This chapter comprises an in-depth analysis of the building, illuminating its historical meaning and value.
About the author: Hyon-sob Kim was a HYI Visiting Scholar from 2014-15 and an HYI Associate from 2022-23.