Labyrinths, an architectural journal, uncovers and documents the discourse of modern and contemporary Korean architecture. Unlike existing magazines that focus on introducing recent works and critiquing architects and their buildings, Labyrinths is a thematic publication that delves deeply into a selected topic for each issue. We aspire to create unexpected encounters and uncover previously unexplored paths amidst the numerous forks and turns in a labyrinth with neither a clear entrance nor exit.

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purpose

Modern architecture emerged from class struggles and recognition battles, with magazines serving as the most effective weapons on this battlefield. Without exception, across every state, magazines were the medium that propagated new architectural ideologies, united colleagues, and carried information. The interwar avant-garde, the neo-avant-garde of the 1960s, and each state’s post-war reconstruction and pedagogical innovations would be unimaginable without magazines. A significant portion of modern architectural history should be dedicated to these publications, both major and minor, that flickered in and out of existence through launches and closures.

title

“Labyrinths” is both a metaphor for and a representation of architecture‘s current predicament. In a situation where we cannot find the precise exit—perhaps where no exit exists—we attempt to extract discourse, theory, criticism, and history from a reality where everyone gropes in the dark in their own way. “Labyrinths” shows little interest in finding the most efficient, shortest route to an exit. Instead, it focuses on the potential by-products that might emerge from the process of getting lost. We believe that what occurs under the name of architecture is more significant than the mirage of perfect architecture. This is why we chose as our title not the mythical archetypal architect, but rather “Labyrinths”—a product of a labyrinthine world.

Labyrinths Issue 2: Japan

We‘re excited to announce the publication of Labyrinths’ second issue focusing on Japan. Throughout the last century (and perhaps even now), Japan has served as the most significant reference point and “the other” for Korean architecture. Yet, despite this importance, Japanese architecture has been addressed less frequently and more cautiously in architectural media for various complex reasons.

 

This issue brings these discussions to the surface. We historically trace how the word “architecture” was translated to “建築”(건축) and explore the era when Japan served as both a window to the world and a model solution for pressing challenges. We explore how prominent British and German architects found modern elements in traditional Japanese architecture, and how these views later shaped evaluations of contemporary Japanese designs. Several articles critically analyze this cross-cultural interaction. The issue also highlights how today’s Korean architects view Japanese architecture, revealing a significant shift in focus from the form and materials that captivated previous generations.

Labyrinths Issue 2: Reference and Citation

The inaugural issue focuses on "Reference and Citation." Literary scholar Kim Yun-sik recalled that overcoming Im Hwa's assertion—"modern literature is transplanted literature"—became his lifetime academic pursuit. Since modern literature was perceived as a medium for fostering shared temporal sensibilities and forming political communities, its colonial transplantation was problematic.
 

What if we transpose this discourse to architecture? The proposition "modern architecture is transplanted architecture" generates minimal anxiety or discomfort. Whether discussing eclectic buildings from the colonial period or modernist structures that proliferated after liberation, their foreign origins are acknowledged. Consequently, connections to the centers of modern architecture became paramount. The temporal gap between Europe, America (and Japan as an implicit reference) and Korea served as a primary catalyst for Korean architectural development.
 

However, certain aspects remain underexplored, particularly contemporary architecture since the mid-20th century. Architects rarely explicitly referenced their predecessors' or mentors' works. Recently, there has been a subtle shift in this paradigm. A modest but distinct architectural trend is emerging that draws creative inspiration from previously overlooked multi-family housing and commercial facilities—structures so commonplace they escaped attention. The inaugural issue aims to examine this emerging trajectory.