[Special Interview] Craig Kiner
Craig Kiner / Associate Director of Zaha Hadid Architects
1. What was it like to return to Korea and visit DDP, a place you personally contributed to designing?
It was a pleasure returning to Seoul to attend the Seoul Design International Forum 2024. I was involved with the design, development and construction of DDP over 6 years. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the facility once again. Considering the facility is now10 years since completion, the building has performed well. SDF and SMG have been superb guardians of DDP organising a broad programme of events to ensure the facility remains a key component of the cultural infrastructure and life of Seoul, with art, fashion, music and design at the forefront.
2. As a speaker at this year's Seoul Design International Forum 2024, was there any moment or insight that particularly inspired you?
Thank you for the invitation to attend the Seoul Design International Forum 2024 and listening to Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s introductory speech, Dr Peter Zec’s Keynote, Birgit Mager. Jeffrey Koh, Kaya Kim and meeting all the other distinguished speakers, professors and guests. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Mayor Oh for his leadership, insight and attendance and CEO Cha Gang-heui for his chairing of the Special Discussion. Mayor Oh shared some of his thoughts on both the past successes and future plans for the city and his focus on design to lead city initiatives. We look forward to the realisation of his strategies. Seoul must remain competitive in a global market for business, employment and culture for visitors and for the citizens of the city.
3. As Mayor Oh mentioned during the special dialogue, since DDP’s construction, many young people in Korea have been inspired to pursue architecture and dream of designing landmarks. What message would you like to share with them?
Architecture should be aspirational allowing individuals of all ages to be inspired and uplifted to envision a positive view of the future. It is wonderful to hear that many young individuals have been stimulated by DDP providing them with the courage to study architecture. Landmark projects can operate at many scales and levels, most importantly they should resonate with the citizens of a place, at times controversial but always generating a reaction, encouraging the viewer to think, to question and to consider possibilities. A ‘Landmark’ should contribute positively to place, as a beacon and catalyst for other events, transformative. Landmarks operate on a wider context, through their intervention the place is improved, made more special, rich and meaningful. It is the responsibility of future architects to continually improve the places where we work, promote higher design quality, civic obligation, environmentally and ecologically responsible future focused practice.
4. This is from our participant to you, I’d like to ask what topic has been on your mind the most these days?
We as designers, architects, landscape architects, engineers and other specialists must encourage the highest level of design innovation whilst addressing the most critical issue of our generation: Significant change in the climate, the resultant impact on our civilisation, the planet, sea level rise and species depletion. As architects and urban designers, we must lead in all areas that we have control over. With regards to architecture and civic design: Environmental and ecological design practice, passive solar design principles, material circularity, energy efficiency, on site renewable energy generation, waste reduction and the promotion of biodiversity, pushing research and the application of advanced technology and construction practice. Creating development which is approaching 0 Carbon in operation and embedded carbon/energy. Aesthetic excellence through design innovation is fully achievable in a 0 Carbon environment. We need to work harder to deliver this imperative to ensure forthcoming generations and all other planetary species have a future in a habitable world.
5. Lastly, after your brief visit to snowy Seoul this winter, do you have any plans to return to the city in the future?
Rarely does Seoul disappoint. The snowfall was beautiful although temporarily inconvenient for commuting and other civic activities. We are hopeful that our continual pursuit of opportunities in Seoul and across the country will evolve into exceptional architecture enabling a positive impact and meaningful contribution to the places we have the fortune to work.
