Dongsei Kim is an architect, urbanist, and educator. His current research, focusing on architecture and urbanism’s relationship to nation-state borders across multiple scales, examines the notions of “inclusion” and “exclusion” and how “us” and ‘them’ are defined through various spatial practices. His research on the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) has been internationally recognized through multiple exhibitions and publications.
Dongsei's research on the DMZ border contributed to the Golden Lion award-winning “Crow’s Eye View: The Korean Peninsula” exhibition at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition directed by Rem Koolhaas (Venice, 2014). His work has been invited to respected international biennales and exhibitions, such as the International Architecture Exhibition at Venice (2021, 2014), Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism (Seoul, 2023, 2019, 2017); “(im)positions” at Melbourne School of Design (Melbourne, 2017); “Over the Boundary” at the State Library of Queensland (Brisbane, 2016); “REAL DMZ PROJECT” at Art Sonje Center (Seoul, 2015); “Making Border” at DNA Gallery (Berlin, 2015); and “Cold War, Hot Peace” at Slought (Philadelphia, 2015).
He served as an assistant professor at Korea University and an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University, GSAPP before joining New York Tech. Additionally, he has taught architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design studios and seminars at Carleton University (Canada); Kyung Hee University (Korea); Monash University (Australia); RMIT University (Australia); and Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand).
Dongsei practiced architecture in Wellington, Seoul, and New York and gained his registration as an architect with the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB) in 2007. He is an architect member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) and served as a Research Advisory Committee member at the Institute of Trans-Division and Border Studies (ITBS) in Seoul, Korea (2015–2018). He is also an invited member of the Korean Studies Seminar at Columbia University.
Dongsei holds a Master in Design Studies with Distinction from Harvard Graduate School of Design. He also earned his M.S. in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University, GSAPP, and a professional Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Assistant Professor of Architecture Dongsei Kim on the political role of architecture.
Recent Projects/Research
- Agency of mapping in architectural and urban design processes
- Imagining impossible scenarios for the DMZ through the instruments of spatial design
- ISRC funded international symposium titled "Project DMZ, 30 Years After" at the renowned Storefront for Art and Architecture in NYC, April 20, 2019.
Selected Publications
- Kim, Dongsei, 2022. “Drawing Hwa-Chaeng: Mapping Contested Territories for Imagination.” Seoul: jeongye-c-publishers. (ISBN: 979-11-86058-33-6)
- Kim, Dongsei. 2021. “Towards a Dynamic Mapping: Deconstructing Borders” in Reading Beyond, edited by Bert De Jonghe & Fatma Mhmood (Harvard University Graduate School of Design) April 2021. pp. 106-109. (ISBN:987-1-7340480-5-6).
- Kim, Dongsei. 2020. “Demilitarized Zone's Interstitial Villages" Red Envelope 02: In-between. No. 02 (September) 10-13. (https://www.lwkp.com/wp-content/uploads/data/20201015_red_envelope_02.pdf)
- Kim, Dongsei. 2020. “Borders as Urbanism: A Preliminary Study on Realigning Border Rivers as Productive Spaces.” The Journal of Seoul Studies Vol. 79 (Summer): 61-69. (DOI: 10.17647/jss.2020.05.79.61. ISSN:1225-746X)
- Kim, Dongsei. 2019. “An outsider’s short reflection on the question of ‘Architecture and the Humanities: Is there a relevant relationship today?’” Architectural Critics Journal Vol. 20 (Winter): 14-23. (ISBN 979-11-966777-4-9)
- Kim, Dongsei. 2018. “Metamorphosis of a Zone.” Topos: The International Review of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design 104 (September): 74-79. (ISBN 978-3-7667-2251-5; ISSN 0942-752 X)
- Kim, Dongsei. 2017. “Towards Edge Spaces of Productive Inclusivity: A Subversive Act.” In Chandigarh Rethink: Transforming Ruralities & Edge(ness) in Global Urbanities, edited by Manu P. Sobti, 92-105. Chambersburg, PA: ORO Editions. (ISBN: 978-1-939621-36-8)
- Kim, Dongsei. 2016. “The First Iteration.” The Site Magazine. Vol. 35. Spring. May 26: 28-37. In print and online (ISSN 2369-9566)
- Kim, Dongsei. 2015. “On Teddy Cruz, The Political Equator (2005-11).” In Critical Landscapes: Art, Space, Politics, edited by Emily Eliza Scott and Kirsten Swenson, 179-181. Oakland: University of California Press. (ISBN 978-0-520-28549-1)
- Kim, Dongsei. 2014. “Towards a Dialogical Peace in the Demilitarized Zone.” Volume. Vol. 40. July: 40-43. (ISSN 978-90-77966)
- Kim, Dongsei. 2014. “A Construct the Koreas (Never) Made Together: Deconstructing the DMZ for the imaginary.” In The North Korea Atlas, edited by Dongwoo Yim & Rafel Luna, 566-571. Seoul: DAMDI Publishers. (ISBN 978-89-6801-026-2).
- Kim, Dongsei. 2013. “Borders as Urbanism: Redrawing the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Republic of Korea.” Landscape Architecture Frontiers. Vol.1 (2) April: 150-157. (ISSN 2095-5405 print, 2095-5413 online) DOI: 10.1007/sLAF-0102-0150.
Selected Exhibitions
- “Seoul 100-year Master Plan” exhibition at 4th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, Seoul, Korea (2023).
- “Experimental Landings” exhibition at Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture GAUD Outpost, Governors Island, NYC, USA (2022).
- “Future School” exhibition in the Korean Pavilion at the 17th (Venice) International Architecture Exhibition, Venice, Italy (2021).
- “Correlated Crisis” exhibition at the 17th (Venice) International Architecture Exhibition, Venice, Italy (2021).
- “Checkpoint. Border Views from Korea” exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg, Germany (2020).
- “In-Between” exhibition at the La Fondation Fiminco & Centre Culturel Coréen, Paris, France (2020).
- “Cities” exhibition at 2nd Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, Seoul, Korea (2019).
- “Portmanteau” exhibition at Priscilla Fowler Fine Art, Las Vegas, NV, USA (2019)
- “Negotiating Borders” exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK), London, UK (2019)
- “Open Borders exhibition” at the Korea Culture Center (KCC), São Paulo, Brazil (2019).
- “DMZ exhibition” at the Culture Station Seoul 284, Seoul, Korea (2019).
- “Projecting the DMZ” exhibition Center Gallery, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, USA (2019).
- “Seoul Biennale International Studios (SBIS) exhibition” at the inaugural Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, Seoul, Korea (2017).
- Golden-Lion award-winning “Crow’s Eye View” exhibition in the Korean Pavilion at the 14th (Venice) International Architecture Exhibition, Venice, Italy (2014).
Honors and Awards
- Presidential Excellence Award for “Student Engagement in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activities” (September 2023)
- New Faculty Excellence Award, School of Architecture and Design, NYIT (May 2023)
- Institutional Support of Research and Creativity (ISRC) Grant: “From Mapping to Design: Understanding Mapping for Designers - A Symposium for a Book Project” (2019)
- Sherman Family Emerging Scholar, The Korea Society, New York, NY (September 2018)
- Institutional Support of Research and Creativity (ISRC) Grant: Project DMZ: “30-Years After” (2018)
- Golden Lion Award for the Best National Pavilion: Invited contributor of "Crow's Eye View: The Korean Peninsula" exhibition for the Korean Pavilion for the 14th Venice International Architecture Exhibit (June 2014)
- 1st prize winner of “Intersections: The Grand Concourse Beyond 100,” an international ideas competition organized by Design Trust for Public Space and Bronx Museum of the Arts, NYC (October 2009)
Courses Taught at New York Tech
- ARCH 841: Digital Modelling for Urban Design
- ARCH 502: Architectural Design VIII
- ARCH 501: Architectural Design VII
- ARCH 402: Architectural Design VI
- ARCH 401: Architectural Design V
- ARCH 140: Visualization I
- ARCH 101: Design Fundamentals I
- ARCH 362: City Planning