While many architects hope for ideal site conditions, Seoul-based Jo Jinman, 43, welcomes challenging ones. “I love site restrictions and limits— they give my work a unique identity,” he says. Prior to founding his eponymous firm in 2014, he studied architecture at Seoul’s Hanyang University, focusing on urban design’s potential to enhance social infrastructure—a foreshadowing of the architect’s work to come. He then pursued a graduate degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, concurrently developing pragmatic skills by establishing the Beijing outpost for Iroje Architects & Planners, and eventually he joined the Beijing and Rotterdam offices of OMA. Unsurprisingly, the latter challenged him to continuously explore fresh solutions for each new project—a methodology that closely mirrors his own design philosophy. Jo’s portfolio of original, often eccentric concepts exemplifies this.
Indeed, no two projects are alike, due to the complexity of their sites. Consider Naesoop Public Library in Seoul, a multilevel structure that Jo built into a hillside. There, he angled the building to reference the surrounding hilly terrain, but also to cleverly form the foundation for outdoor community spaces—including a rooftop amphitheater—and connect users directly to the mountain park above (previously only accessible via a circuitous route).
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