An architecture exhibition in Seoul has proven so popular that organizers extended its run by nearly two weeks. "Fiction Non-Fiction: In Search of the Forms of Our Lives" by Guga Urban Architecture, originally scheduled to close November 11, will now remain open until November 23 due to overwhelming public demand. The exhibition marks 25 years of dedicated field studies by architect Cho Jung-goo and his team.
The exhibition takes place in a historic three-story red brick building in Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, constructed in 1936 by Korea's pioneering architect Park Gil-ryong. Upon entering, visitors immediately encounter something unusual for an architecture show: a jjokbang, a tiny room that barely accommodates one person. These cramped living spaces, created by splitting larger rooms into multiple micro-units, represent entire neighborhoods called jjokbangchon that architect Cho Jung-goo has been documenting every Wednesday for the past quarter-century.
The first floor's "Guga's Foundation" section showcases the remarkable findings from these weekly field studies, which began at Jongmyo on November 29, 2000. Over 1,108 field studies have been conducted across 105 administrative districts, documenting how residents have adapted to life in Seoul's rapidly modernizing urban landscape. The centerpiece of this floor features "Seogyo 365," a detailed model of a long line of 2- and 3-story buildings that resembles a train. This architectural formation developed alongside railway tracks that once carried coal trains from Danginri to Yongsan. Though the tracks have disappeared, the buildings remain, now facing a road popularly known as Hongdae juchajang-gil.
Cho Jung-goo operates as both architect and anthropologist, meticulously recording his observations in over 2,000 pages of neighborhood sketches while creating archives of vanishing urban objects. The exhibition displays signboards and artifacts collected from old neighborhoods around Sewoon Plaza, where planned redevelopment has sparked heated debates between Seoul City and the Culture Ministry over potential impacts on the UNESCO-listed Jongmyo Shrine. Video interviews with local residents further demonstrate the depth and scope of Guga Urban Architecture's research methodology.
The exhibition's title "Fiction Non-Fiction" reflects the firm's dual approach to architecture. The "non-fiction" component involves systematically recording and scanning the city, as Cho describes it, while the "fiction" element encompasses the architectural projects inspired by discoveries made during field studies. This methodology bridges documentary research with creative architectural solutions.
The second floor section, "Houses Built by Guga," showcases the firm's completed residential projects, including houses featuring madang (central courtyards), hanok-inspired designs that evoke traditional Korean living experiences, and evolved hanok that meet contemporary lifestyle needs by reinterpreting essential elements like courtyards, eaves, and balconies. A particularly significant presentation focuses on Cho's own residence, a hanok built in Seodaemun in 1958 that served as the starting point for his architectural practice and has been his home for 20 years.
"In Search of a New Form of Life" on the third floor highlights public architecture projects and religious spaces. Notable examples include Ragung Hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, recognized as the country's first hanok hotel. Located in the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935), the hotel incorporates urban hanok elements such as private madang in each unit, with units strategically clustered for efficient hotel operations.
Cho also contributed significantly to new buildings at Jingwansa, a Buddhist temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, presenting innovative temple architecture integrated with natural surroundings. The complex includes Hamwol-dang, a contemporary architectural space that demonstrates the successful fusion of hanok principles with modern temple requirements, particularly for temple stay programs.
One of the exhibition's most striking displays is a meticulously detailed 4 by 1.5 meter model of Hannam-dong Hill. This landscape representation of 1,500 homes provides a bird's-eye view of an area soon to be transformed by urban redevelopment projects. The model illustrates how residents have ingeniously adapted their houses to challenging hillside terrain, with each building reflecting the unique character and needs of the families who inhabit them.
The exhibition extends beyond the main building through "guzi," a 1:1 scale pavilion constructed outside the exhibition venue. This marks the third pavilion built by Guga Urban Architecture, following their hanok presentation at the 2010 Venice Biennale Korean Pavilion and "Jitda," which appeared at the 2023 Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism. "Jitda" remains on display at this year's biennale and can be viewed at Songhyeon Green Plaza, located just a five-minute walk from the main Guga exhibition venue. The pavilion hosts many of the discussions and programs that accompany the exhibition, providing additional space for public engagement with the firm's work and philosophy.
