Jamie Gu

Jamie Gu travelled to Korea to conduct field research for her Master of Architecture thesis, which explores how traditional hanok craft and ornament can be reinterpreted through contemporary fabrication. Supported by an International Experience Award, Jamie was able to do firsthand research on the Korean architectural traditions that her thesis is rooted in. “Korea offered access to hanok villages and cultural archives that deepened my understanding of the relationship between craft, material, and space.” 
 
“Through this trip I was able to visit several sites within South Korea. I deepened my understanding of how traditional hanok architecture expresses cultural values through material and spatial design. Visiting preserved hanok villages and contemporary reinterpretations helped me see how ornament and craftsmanship can evolve within modern architectural practice. The experience clarified how cultural identity is currently being expressed through form, proportion, and materiality.” 
 
Jamie highlights how important it was to see her research areas with her own eyes: “My favorite part was being physically present within the architecture, being able to walk through hanok spaces and feeling how light, material, and proportion shape the atmosphere. Experiencing these spaces in person offered an entirely different understanding of their character, and allowed me to understand the ways the atmosphere changes throughout the day. The layers of ornamentation are so detailed that they truly come alive only when seen up close in person.” 
 
“Spending time within these environments allowed me to see how ornamentation is not simply decorative but deeply tied to structure, rhythm, and the experience of movement through space. I began to appreciate how these crafted details embody cultural values of balance, modesty, and harmony with nature. This experience not only deepened my respect for traditional Korean craft but also inspired new ideas for how ornament could be reinterpreted in my own design work, bridging traditional symbolism with contemporary methods of fabrication.” 
 
Jamie encourages students seeking an international experience to be intentional about their time abroad: “Field research abroad offers a rare chance to see how culture and design intersect in real contexts, something that can transform both your perspective and your work. Be intentional about what you want to learn and where you want to visit, but also allow room for discovery! Seeing and feeling the architecture in its cultural context offers insights that go far beyond drawings or photographs.”