Students Learn Hands-on Skills In Unique Architecture Education Program

By: Tai Jeong

Country Director, Canada Wood Korea

When Gilsu Heo, Principal Architect of Studio Design Mill, was a college student of architecture, he had participated in the “Korea Wood Construction School” organized by Research Institute City Culture (RICC) and sponsored by the Korea Wood Construction (KWCA) and Canada Wood Korea over several summers. Participating students built new wood frame houses or renovated old houses using wood to improve the living conditions of the vulnerable such as the elderly living alone in rural areas.

Now he is one of architects participating in K-12 Architecture school for Children and he organized and conducted the school over 5 weeks for 30 elementary students of Kunnam Elementary School in Yeoncheo-gun, Gyeonggi-do in grades of 4, 5 and 6. As part of the school, he has led the construction of “Shelter (Agit or hideout)” with dimension lumber, the only construction material which can be handled by the young kids.

This architecture school program not only introduces wood as a building material to young children, but also promotes creativity, 3-dimensional thinking and collaboration of the students.

KS Housing and Myungsung Wood, members of the KWCA, have supported the construction.

*K-12 is a term used to designate school grades prior to college, from kindergarten and the 1st to the 12th grade.TwitterLinkedIn