World Architecture in Japan

During the summer of 2019, I participated in the Japan/Korea study abroad for design majors. I spent two weeks traveling through Japan, visited over nine cities while exploring both ancient and contemporary works of architecture. I then spent four weeks along with seven other classmates in South Korea. In South Korea, I took a design studio and seminar course which involved undertaking a design project. I designed a contemplative space along the Seoul City Wall. The experience was like having a “class on the road”, we learned so much just by exploring, seeing, observing, and of course, sketching a lot.

This trip proved to be an invaluable part of my architectural education because I got to experience a sometimes contradictory approach to space, design, and how people react to the spaces they occupy. Exploring the culture and architecture of Japan and Korea made a huge impact on me and has challenged my understanding of what I thought I knew, and I believe that I would, in turn, use that knowledge to make a positive impact through design.

Before this trip, I had studied a bit about world architecture and architectural theory and in particular, the theory of modern Japanese architecture. This prepared me for what to expect while in Japan and gave me a good foundation and background to better understand and appreciate the architecture, concepts, and urban issues I explored while in Japan. Further, my study abroad experience and my in-class experiences at Penn State complemented each other by providing a more well-rounded perspective on issues I would likely be facing as a designer in the real world.

I learned from this experience that there is not a one size fits all approach to design. As a designer, I would have the opportunity to resolve issues that affect people with different experiences, different cultures, different values, and travel is one of the best ways that I could understand and appreciate some of these differences and similarities and how to approach them as a designer. This experience not only gave me an insight into Korean and Japanese culture, but it also widened my horizon as an individual, global citizen, and as a designer. I believe I will always refer to what I have learned from this experience throughout my career.