Public Office Complex

Agile Medium ; A Future-Oriented Public Building Embracing Change

The Seobu Truck Terminal site serves as a catalyst for Yangcheon-gu's vision of a "working and growing city," reorganizing the urban fabric into a pedestrian-centric structure through the introduction of a high-tech urban logistics facility. Positioned as both the terminus and the extension of the green axis, the site acts as a public anchor that accommodates and expands the flow of the city.

In an era of hyper-change, the work environment can no longer be contained within fixed forms. While industries and working methods evolve rapidly, architecture remains a long-lasting physical structure. Agile Medium translates this temporal discrepancy into a matter of systems rather than static forms, proposing a spatial organization premised on the continuous cycle of change.

The workspace ratio is entirely reorganized from a traditional 7:2:1 structure to a 4:3:3 networking-centric paradigm. By streamlining independent workspaces and expanding areas for collaboration and interaction, the lower levels are designed as open, welcoming spaces that draw the public in, while the upper levels provide optimized environments for deep focus and growth.

The spatial framework is governed by a 1.8m to 5.4m grid module, allowing for flexible reconfiguration according to organizational scale. The split cores and the Agile Spine orchestrate the programmatic distribution around a highly adaptable central open plan, facilitating a seamless sequence that guides users through the startup lifecycle: Support → Interaction → Immersion → Growth.

Urban infrastructure and the startup support facility coexist within a single architectural framework, with the integrated control center securing operational efficiency through independent circulation paths. Furthermore, the natural level difference of the site is seamlessly absorbed through sloped landscapes and ramps, transforming it into a welcoming public landscape.

Finally, the structure and facade are seamlessly integrated into a unified exoskeleton system. Built upon an open-plan layout and combined with prefabricated concrete panels, this approach ensures construction precision and scalability. It ultimately functions as a resilient infrastructure ready to adapt to any future programmatic shifts.

 

Year : 2026

Location : Seoul, Korea

Size : 4,958.12 m²

Status : Competition Entry (3rd Place)

Type : Office

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team :

Seungil Kim, Gwangeun Hwang, Bokyung Seo, Soohyun Kim (I.f)

Collaboration :

EFFECTUS

S Univ. Dormitory

Living Manifold: A Residential Structure Weaving Preservation and Coexistence

Living Manifold proposes a new identity for the extension of the University of Seoul International House, where preservation and coexistence are organized into a multilayered residential structure. Located between the existing residence halls, Haneul Pond, and Baebongsan Mountain, the site is not only a place for additional dormitory rooms but also a critical point where nature, campus life, and residential community overlap.

The project responds to this condition by arranging a T-shaped residential tower and a low-rise communal base around a sequence of open spaces. The upper residential volume is set back to secure privacy, daylight, and views, while the lower communal area extends the existing dormitory programs and creates a shared platform for students. Public and semi-public programs are placed at the lower levels with separated access routes, allowing local community use without disturbing the security of the student residential zone.

The shared spaces are organized as an expanded living room system: the urban living room at the lower level, the community living room at the first floor, and the everyday living rooms distributed across the residential floors. These spaces support different scales of interaction, from public events and RC programs to small study, rest, and casual encounters between residents.

Landscape is also treated as an active framework rather than a background. The front yard, courtyard, rear garden, and rooftop garden form a gradual transition from campus openness to residential privacy and the ecological edge of Baebongsan. Through this layered arrangement, Living Manifold redefines the dormitory extension as a living network that connects nature and campus, individual privacy and collective life, students and the wider community.

 

Year: 2026

Location : Seoul, Korea

Size : 6,796.86 m²

Status : Competition Entry

Type : Domitory

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim, (I.f CDL)

Design Team :

Seungil Kim, Gwangeun Hwang, Suyeon Seo (I.f)

Suyu Office

 

Year : 2025

Location : Seoul, Korea

Size : 462.12 m²

Status : Design Proposal

Type : Office

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team :

Chaewon go, Bugeon Kim, Isaac Kang (I.f.CDL)

K Univ. Facade and Spatial Renewal - 03

Cross Louvers

Screen Louvers

Horizontal Ribbon

Spatial Renovation

This study proposes a façade and interior renewal plan, with a focus on accessibility, courtyard connectivity, and environmental performance. The building suffers from deteriorated exterior tiles, exposed equipment, outdated public areas, and level differences that weaken the connection between indoor spaces and the courtyard.

The façade alternatives — Cross Louvers, Screen Louvers, and Horizontal Ribbon — respond to the school’s identity by expressing convergence and exchange while also improving shading performance and concealing exterior equipment. The interior strategy is distinguished by the addition of ramps and elevators for barrier-free access, the restructuring of low-level public spaces, the overcoming of courtyard level differences, and the conversion of underused upper-level space into an open rooftop garden.

 
 

Year: 2025

Location : Yongin, Korea

Status : Design Proposal

Type : Institution, Renovation

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team : Bugun Kim (I.f CDL)

K Univ. Facade and Spatial Renewal - 02

DNA Sequencing

Monolithic

Wrinkled Strips

Spatial Renovation

This study proposes a renewal strategy, focusing on resolving the visual and spatial complexity caused by multiple building extensions. The existing building shows façade deterioration, polluted tile surfaces, exposed mechanical equipment, and fragmented entrances and common spaces.

The façade alternatives — DNA Sequencing, Monolithic Layering, and Wrinkled Stripes — are developed from the identity and the building’s accumulated layers of expansion. This proposal emphasizes symbolic façade expression based on biological imagery, the reorganization of scattered entrances, the reconnection of pedestrian routes, and the transformation of inefficient shared areas into lounges, open labs, and a rooftop garden for rest and exchange.

 

Year: 2025

Location : Yongin, Korea

Status : Design Proposal

Type : Institution, Renovation

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team : Isaac Kang (I.f CDL)

K Univ. Facade and Spatial Renewal - 01

Classic

Modern Classic

Innovation

Spatial Renovation

This study proposes a façade and spatial renewal strategy, a large academic building directly facing the central campus area, including Square. The project addresses deteriorated exterior tiles, exposed outdoor equipment, and outdated lobby and shared spaces through façade replacement, courtyard-oriented spatial restructuring, and improved public circulation.

The design alternatives — Classic, Modern Classic, and Innovation — explore different ways to harmonize the existing building. A key feature of this proposal is the reorganization of scattered lounges and common areas around the atrium and courtyard, while linking the entrance lobby and rooftop garden to surrounding pedestrian flows and the observatory walking path.

 

Year: 2025

Location : Yongin, Korea

Status : Design Proposal

Type : Institution, Renovation

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team : Chaewon Go (I.f CDL)

K Univ. Facade Renovation

Essential Classic

Neo-Classic

Innovation & Performance

This study proposes a renovation and vertical extension strategy for the main Engineering Building at Kyung Hee University under the concept “Where Tradition Embraces Innovation.” The project aims to enhance the building’s symbolic value, improve spatial efficiency, and upgrade environmental performance through façade renewal, window and shading system improvements, rooftop strategies, and interior reorganization.

Based on site investigation, 3D scanning, digital modeling, and analysis of existing structure and rooftop equipment, the study develops several design alternatives: Essential Classic, Neo-Classic, and Innovation & Performance. These alternatives explore different balances between campus identity, classical architectural language, new functional demands, and high-performance façade systems.

The proposed extension strategies include façade improvement, rooftop garden creation, vertical expansion, elevator and restroom extensions, and additional space for faculty offices and laboratories. Overall, the study positions the Engineering Building as a future-oriented campus asset that connects Kyung Hee University’s architectural heritage with contemporary spatial and environmental needs.

 

Year: 2025

Location : Yongin, Korea

Status : Design Proposal

Type : Renovation

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team :

Seungil Kim (I.f CDL)

Component-Based Modular Housing

Component-Based Standard Plans

BA (Bathroom)

L (Living)

K (Kitchen)

B (Balcony)

4 standard floor plan types

 

29㎡

 

48㎡

39㎡

 

59㎡

GH Modular Living System is a research and planning project for developing standard unit plans for high-rise modular housing. The project responds to the limitations of conventional modular housing, such as rigid layouts, repetitive stacking, short life cycles, project-specific solutions, and provider-oriented planning. Instead, it proposes a flexible housing system that balances mass production with adaptability, long-term maintenance, and changing user needs.

The design strategy is based on a component-based planning method. Fixed components, including the entrance, kitchen, bathroom, mechanical shaft, and laundry area, are integrated as service zones, while flexible components such as living rooms, bedrooms, balconies, façade elements, and built-in furniture can be selectively combined according to household size and lifestyle. This allows modular units to maintain standardized dimensions and construction efficiency while offering spatial variation and user customization.

Four standard unit types—29㎡, 39㎡, 48㎡, and 59㎡—are developed using a common structural grid and modular dimension of 3.3m × 12m × h 3.3m. Each type responds to different household profiles, from single-person households to families of two to four people. By combining service modules, living components, balcony components, and furniture systems, the project establishes a scalable framework for future high-rise modular housing that can support flexibility, efficiency, and improved residential quality.

 

Year: 2025

Status : Completed

Type : Modular System

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim, (I.f CDL)

Design Team : Hyunjoo Kang (I.f)

Jeju Office

 

Year : 2025

Location : Jeju, Korea

Size : 1,609.37 m²

Status : Design Proposal

Type : Office

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team : Seungil Kim, Gwangeun Hwang (I.f CDL)

Shinjuku City Building

 

This project proposes a compact eight-story rental building in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Located near Yasukuni-dori and the TOHO Building with the Godzilla Head, the site has strong pedestrian visibility and requires a clear facade strategy that can be easily recognized from the street.

Due to the narrow site condition, the plan focuses on maximizing rentable floor area while responding to legal and evacuation requirements. The building is planned below the 31-meter height limit to avoid the need for an emergency elevator, while the section is adjusted to secure the maximum volume under the road setback regulation. A front evacuation balcony and a rear outdoor stair provide two evacuation routes, and the ground-level frontage is designed to maintain visibility and commercial value.

The proposal explores three facade alternatives. Option A emphasizes a solid grid facade with a pixelated media expression. Option B strengthens verticality through a continuous curtain wall and highlights the horizontal rhythm of the exposed side wall. Option C responds to pedestrian flows from Yasukuni-dori and the TOHO Building by forming an L-shaped facade gesture that creates a stronger urban presence. Overall, the project aims to transform a narrow urban site into a recognizable commercial building through efficient planning, legal optimization, and a distinctive facade design.

 

Year: 2025

Location : Shinjuku, Japan

Size : 1016.75 m²

Status : Proposal

Type : Commertial

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team :

Suyeon Seo (I.f)

Collaboration :

M3 Systems, Atelier KOMA

National Archive Museum

Living Records: The Multidimensional Role of the National Archives Museum

The National Archives Museum is not merely a repository of records but a spatial platform where records are created, shared, and interpreted. Records are not just static collections of past information; they are dynamically reinterpreted within historical and social contexts. Just as Walter Benjamin's nonlinear view of history suggests, records are not simply objects of preservation but cultural assets that connect the past, present, and future.

The National Archives Museum: A Period and a Comma in the Master Plan

The National Archives Museum is not merely an independent structure; it serves as an architectural nexus within the spatial network of the National Museum Complex. Rather than existing in isolation, it must integrate seamlessly with the broader master plan, functioning as a key element in the interconnected museum district. Although positioned at the edge of the museum complex, the Archives Museum is not just an endpoint but a starting point for the expansion of archival culture. It acts as both a period, marking a culmination, and a comma, allowing continuity, ensuring that records are not just preserved but actively engaged with, interpreted, and disseminated.

As the Track of Records and the Vessel of Everyday Life

The National Archives Museum is designed as a space where preservation and openness coexist, serving as an interface where archived records intersect with public experience. Its spatial concept is structured around a “floating track (궤)” that holds records and a “vessel (함)” that embraces and connects it to everyday life.

 

Year : 2025

Location : Sejong, Korea

Size : 11,798.87 m²

Phase : Competition Entry

Type : Museum and Archives

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f.CDL)

Design Team :

Hyunjoo Kang (I.f), Seungil Kim, Gwangeun Hwang, Soohyun Im, Roun Yi, Hyungtae Kim, Bugeon Kim, Isaac Kang (I.f.CDL)

S:PROUT Pavilion Prototype

Since 2023, the Kyung Hee University Convergence Design Lab, I.f Architecture Lab, and AXIA Materials have been researching the architectural applications of continuous fiber composite materials through an industry-academia collaboration.

Project S:PROUT, the first physical outcome of this partnership, was created through the convergence of the superior elastic strength and innovative material technology of AXIA Materials’ high-performance continuous glass fiber reinforced composite, LiteTex®, with the shape-deformation tracking technology for active elastic surfaces, digital design tools, and structural simulations developed by I.f Architecture Lab and the Kyung Hee University research lab.

Applied as a pavilion within a residential complex, this project demonstrates the potential of the fiber industry to expand into architectural design and advanced materials.

As a pioneering example that establishes a new paradigm for the utilization of new architectural materials, Project S:PROUT is expected to hold a significant position in the architecture industry through various future research and development endeavors.

 
 

Year : 2025

Location : Gumi, Korea

Status : Design Proposal

Type : Pavilion

Project Director :

Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Principal Researcher :

Seungil Kim, Gwangeun Hwang (I.f CDL)

 

Related Project

Related Research

 

Elastic Kinetic Facade

Design process in general, and particularly in architecture, is a complex process that involves a combination of knowledge, skills, experiences, practices, etc. In recent decades, digital design emerges as an unstoppable trend, which adds to all the aforementioned factors the use of digital tools. The techniques cover this issue with computational and algorithmic design systems, the so called parametric design. It is already vividly present in the first half of the twentieth century in the automotive sector (geometric design), and finally impact on architectural design which represents a new step that has led to a new type of Architecture. The workshop is to re-envision the role of Architects as system maker from thinking strategy to fabricator.

This course aims to investigate the continuing advancement of computational processes in architecture in their practice. The topics are exposed as both a technical and intellectual venture of formal, spatial, construction and ecological potentials. The primary role of the workshop is the theoretical and practical development of generative computational design process on both conceptual design and construction phase, allowing for the integral use of computer-controlled manufacturing process in this design system. The later of this course will reach to critically review computational design towards a more challenging and self-demanding commitment to physical and environmental constraints as a fabrication stage.

 

Year : 2024

Material : LiteTex 2ply (AXIA Materials), Plywood

Project Director : Dongil Kim, Sanghyun Kim (KHU)

Principal Research : Seungil Kim (I.f CDL), Daehan Lee (V.P.Lab), Eunae Gang (RCI Lab)

GH Highrise Modular Housing

High-Rise Modular Unit System is a product development proposal for a high-rise modular housing system based on structural innovation and unit integration. The project responds to the limitations of conventional modular construction in Korea, where modular housing has often relied on repetitive stacking, rigid layouts, and apartment plans borrowed from conventional concrete housing systems. As the market expands toward mid- and high-rise modular buildings, the proposal argues that modular construction requires not only standardized production, but also a flexible structural and spatial system.

The research focuses on diversifying modular construction methods beyond simple stacking. Infill-type systems and cartridge-type systems are examined as alternatives that can improve structural stability, reduce floor impact noise, and allow individual units to be replaced or maintained more easily over time. In parallel, the proposal develops interior unit types that can be applied across different modular plans rather than being limited to a single unit layout.

The unit system is organized into three categories: service units, flexible units, and balcony units. Service units integrate equipment and structural systems to improve functionality and constructability; flexible units support different spatial configurations through modularized interior functions; and balcony units operate as independent exterior attachments that consider insulation, drainage, and façade performance. Through this approach, the project establishes a scalable framework for high-rise modular housing that can support mass production, customization, long-term maintenance, and future commercialization.

Year: 2024

Status : Proposal

Type : Modular System

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team :

Hyunjoo Kang (I.f)

Project PEACE

The Vertiport of the PEACE PROJECT is proposed as a new transportation infrastructure connecting cities near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of South and North Korea. It goes beyond being a mere mode of transportation to serve as a symbolic venue linking the two Koreas. Designed with respect for the preserved natural environment of the DMZ, the VertiStop seeks architectural solutions that coexist with the ecosystem while minimizing environmental impact and harmonizing with nature.

The Vertiport features a steel truss structure comprising three landing pads, each with a radius of approximately 40 meters, providing both stability and efficiency. Designed to stand about 10-15 meters taller than the average height of nearby trees, it minimizes interference with nature during takeoff and landing, ensuring smooth operations. The structure is divided into three levels. The ground level serves as the main entrance and circulation area, guiding users through a natural flow. The middle level functions as a lounge for pre- and post-boarding procedures, featuring independent observation decks where passengers can complete boarding formalities while enjoying the surrounding natural scenery. The top level is a waiting area designed for comfort, offering a pleasant environment for passengers before boarding. All levels are connected by independent vertical circulation paths.

The exterior is clad with steel materials that reflect the surrounding forest and blend seamlessly into the natural environment. This choice of material reacts dynamically to changing light and weather over time, creating an aesthetic that makes the structure feel like an integral part of nature.

Around the Vertiport, gardens and outdoor spaces harmonize with nature, offering passengers areas to rest or take a stroll while waiting. These features position the VertiStop as more than just transportation infrastructure; it has the potential to foster interaction and communication between residents of both Koreas, serving as a place of exchange and connection.

 
 

Year : 2024

Status : Concept Design

Type : Vertiport

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f CDL)

Design Team : Seungil Kim, Gwangeun Hwang (I.f CDL)

Collaboration : I.f + JOWA Architects + SML

Connective Monument

 

Connective Monument: A Modular Facade Connecting City, Brand, and Customer

Connective Monument is a facade renovation proposal for Store Cheongdam that transforms the building into a bold and interactive brand landmark. Located in Cheongdam, where high-end flagship stores and iconic brand facades are concentrated, the project responds to the site’s urban character by creating a distinctive exterior that is both luxurious and memorable.

The design is based on the idea of connection — connecting the city and the building, the existing Store identity and a new spatial experience, and the brand with its customers. The facade is composed of three-dimensional star-shaped modules inspired by brand’s symbolic value. Each module can rotate and combine in multiple directions, creating a dynamic surface that expresses the brand’s bold and playful tone.

Beyond visual impact, the facade is designed as a communicative surface. Through lighting and color scenarios, it can respond to product launches, seasonal events, and urban festivals, allowing the building to engage with the city over time. The modules also create a layered experience from the inside, filtering light and views while offering potential use as display shelves or interior elements.

The use of lightweight GFRP modules supports efficient fabrication, installation, removal, and reuse. By applying an independent facade structure, the proposal minimizes interference with the existing glass facade and store operation. In this way, Connective Monument presents Store Cheongdam not simply as a retail building, but as a flexible urban interface that embodies Samsung’s future-oriented brand identity.

 

Related Project

 

Year: 2025

Location : Gangnam, Seoul, Korea

Phase : Design Development

Type : Commercial Facade Renovation

Principal in Charge :

Seojoo Lee, Hyojung Kim (I.f), Dongil Kim (I.f.CDL)

Design Team : Hyunjoo Kang (I.f)