NEVER SEEN . MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2024
Saul Kim
5 Cabins, 2023
The term "conceivable error" is employed to describe a product with an outcome conceivable despite being the result of an accidental error. In this design approach, there are no constraints imposed, allowing for unrestricted exploration of ideas devoid of conventional architectural norms such as site, program, or user. Instead, the focus remains solely on the intrinsic essence and meaning of architectural elements. Recognizable architectural components like walls, floors, columns, and roofs are deliberately manipulated, juxtaposed, and misappropriated to challenge preconceived notions and provoke thought. Through this process, ordinary materials are transformed into thought-provoking spectacles, blurring the lines between correctness and error. The design is considered complete when the main concept is expressed with clarity, emphasizing abstraction and simplicity to foster open interpretation. This approach rejects the notion of aestheticization in favor of architectural beauty derived from concise and conceivable ideas. The resulting designs serve as catalysts for dialogue, encouraging viewers to reconsider their perceptions of architectural form and expression.
Saul Kim is an architectural designer based in Seoul. He began his architectural journey in Singapore, and moved to Los Angeles to earn a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design. In 2020, Saul launched the Architecture Anomaly design research series. This initiative has led to recognition in publications, gallery exhibitions, and opportunities worldwide. Since 2023, Saul Kim Studio has been involved in projects spanning the United States, Canada, Ukraine, and Korea, offering planning and design services. Saul's commitment to education extends to lecturing at universities globally and mentoring thousands of students through platforms like Domestika. In addition to the online teaching commitments, he also currently teaches at Hongik University as an adjunct professor and as a lecturer at Kaywon University of Art and Design.
