Collaboration with Hanyang University: Eunji Cho at the ICE Lab

The exchange was established upon the pre-existing collaboration between Korean and Swiss researchers, namely Prof. Sung-Taeg Nam, heading the Architecture, Object, and Urban Theory Lab at Hanyang University, and Prof. Dolaana Khovalyg, heading the Laboratory of Integrated Comfort Engineering at EPFL. This partnership originated from their joint involvement in the international academic program ARC-HEST between Korea and Switzerland, which was launched in 2019. Eunji’s Ph.D. thesis, supervised by Prof. Nam, focuses on "Tent and Campfire as Constructive and Environmental Techniques: Nomad Architecture Case", and during her exchange stay, she investigated the multifunctional elements concerning the two bioclimatic archetypes, building envelope and fire, using three strategies such as separation, integration, and sensation. The objective of the project was to answer the question of why multifunction is vital as the central core and committed to distribution in architecture. The result of the exchange is intended to conclude in an interdisciplinary publication tentatively titled “The two architectural archetypes of shed and campfire: Multifunctional element (superposition) versus standard-of-living package (disposition)”.

Throughout her stay, Eunji found value in being located at both the Fribourg campus of EPFL, which is part of the Smart Living Lab (SLL), and the Lausanne campus. The Fribourg campus offered an ideal setting for concentrated work, while visits to the main campus in Lausanne allowed her to attend pertinent classes and use distinctive library resources like the Rolex Learning Center. In addition, Eunji actively participated in research discussions with her ICE colleagues, contributing to a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights. These discussions provided an opportunity for Eunji to share her perspectives, gather feedback, and collaborate with fellow researchers to refine and enhance her project's objectives and outcomes. Additionally, Eunji engaged with members of the Smart Living Lab community, fostering connections and leveraging diverse expertise to enrich her understanding of relevant topics and explore innovative approaches to her research. Through these interactions, Eunji strengthened the scope of her project and contributed to the vibrant intellectual environment within the SLL research community. Following Eunji's exchange program's conclusion, the collaboration between the ICE lab at EPFL and the Architecture, Object, and Urban Theory Lab at Hanyang University is projected to evolve, fostering a strong connection between architectural design and engineering solutions.