Ewha Architecture Forum Features World-Renowned Architect Dominique Perrault
To commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, the 2026 Korea Herald Architecture Talk featuring renowned architect Dominique Perrault was held on April 7 at Lee Sam-bong Hall at the Ewha Campus Complex (ECC). Organized by The Korea Herald and sponsored by Ewha Womans University, the forum held special significance as the ECC is one of Perrault’s signature architectural works. Approximately 400 people attended the event, including architects and cultural figures from Korea and abroad, as well as students and members of the public. Distinguished attendees included Eun Mee Kim, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Ewha Womans University; Ewha President Hyang-Sook Lee; and French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux.
President Lee said in her welcoming remarks, “This forum carries profound meaning, providing a platform for international dialogue through architecture in a year that marks both the 140th anniversary of Korea and France establishing diplomatic ties and the 140th anniversary of Ewha’s founding.” Next, Perrault took the stage to deliver a keynote lecture titled “Public Architecture: Ground, Light and the Civic Realm.” Drawing on projects such as the ECC and the Gangnam Intermodal Transit Center (GITC), he emphasized the need to reimagine the “ground” not as a mere boundary but as a functional and experiential space. Furthermore, he underscored that future urban development should focus on compact growth and green space conservation, rather than unchecked sprawl.
After his lecture, Perrault joined a discussion with Sang-Hun Lee, emeritus professor of architecture at Konkuk University, on “Shaping Cities and Public Space in Korea and France.” The two discussed the role of public space and the direction of urban design, with Perrault noting that public space emerges through time, use, and memory. The forum ended on a high note, having established itself as a venue for international discourse on public architecture and the future of cities.
