An Interview With Second Winner Of Marsception 2024 Architecture Competition - Seo an Park and Ju yeon Hong

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you with "Seo an Park and Ju yeon Hong", from South Korea - Second Winner Of Marsception 2024 Architecture Competition. "Seo an Park and Ju yeon Hong", both majors in Architecture and Interior Design at Kaywon University of the Arts, Korea.

Come and take a look at what the Second Winner Of Marsception 2024 Architecture Competition - "Seo an Park and Ju yeon Hong" with their proposal "A Martian Eclipse" have to say about their experience and journey throughout the competition. For the purpose of this interview they would be referred as SJ to responses, however Volume Zero referred as VZ.

SJ- We are Seo an Park and Ju yeon Hong, both majors in Architecture and Interior Design at Kaywon University of the Arts, Korea. We are currently completing our major enrichment course, and we came together as a team for our major class project. As partners who have collaborated on many previous projects, we have been constantly discussing and solving problems and accumulating data. Since we are studying architecture and interior design at the same time, we decided to work on this project with an emphasis on interior and exterior organic design and multiple interactive elements.

SJ- Other domestic awards: 2022 Interniendeco Space Design Competition/2023 Ulsan Public Design Competition/2023 Gain Design Competition Korean Interior Design Competition.  

We participated in two other competitions, Buildner's 'MICROHOME' and YAC's 'Moon Station'. Although we didn't get good results, just participating was enough experience and I think it has more value than that. I think the prize of this competition is the proof of our experience and hard work.

SJ- We tried to give it a simple but impressive image. The doughnut shape floating on Mars is intriguing enough, and I think our bold attempts, such as taking the design for granted, have worked in our favor. In other words, this project is proving to be a test of our ability to mesmerize the eye and make sense.

SJ- As a student myself, if I dare to give advice, I would say to go for it without hesitation. Challenging yourself sometimes brings us unexpected results. Nothing is more valuable to a student than experience.

SJ- The question of whether our ideas and imagination can be realistically and physically realized on the unknown planet Mars, and the challenge of scalability that naturally follows, has made our project hesitant. However, the challenge of finding a medium that blurs the line between reality and imagination will continue in the future, and since human limits are undefinable, this is the story we want to tell through this project, which encompasses all fields of architecture and humanity.

SJ- It was a very interesting and challenging experience. Building in an environment so different from Earth presented new challenges, which gave us the opportunity to explore innovative solutions. We tried to combine creativity and practicality to come up with a design that could contribute to the future colonization of Mars. I hope that one day we can all walk on Mars.

SJ- Design is centered around creativity and practicality. Design without creativity is mediocre, and design without practicality is useless. When you combine the two, you get something unique and functional. Design should always evolve and adapt, but never lose sight of its original value.

SJ- Expressing the message we wanted the building to convey. It had to be an eye-catching design and a convincing process to match.

SJ- I used computer software to establish the visual elements. We used SketchUp, Enscape, and Photoshop to create 3D images and then software like Autocad and Illustrator to complete our process. Other than that, we acquired basic knowledge through space-related articles and materials, and we tried to find inspiration in every situation and object in our daily life.