Lee Jung-hoon’s Heritage series reimagines traditional Korean architecture

The Heritage series, created by designer Lee Jung-hoon is a collection of sculptural modern furniture. The designs are inspired by the characteristic forms, colours and appearance of traditional Korean architecture. Borrowing references from the archaic Hanok, which is the traditional Korean housing, the designer has attempted to reinterpret its beauty and vibe from a contemporary perspective.

Lee Jung-hoon is a Korean craft and furniture designer who essentially draws inspiration from Korean heritage to create contemporary sculptural pieces that embody latent symbolism and double as practically usable objects.

The furniture pieces from Jung-hoon’s Heritage series, although sculptural in appearance, can occupy habitable spaces as utilitarian objects that also exude an antique aura, thanks to their resemblance to ancient architecture. The design process of Jung-hoon was also influenced in part by the recent movement of glocalism, which encourages the trend of rediscovering the culture of one’s country in order to borrow references and integrate them into contemporary designs that are aesthetic and functional as well as globally relevant and culturally rooted.

Jung-hoon particularly focused on Giwa, which is a traditional Korean tile used on the roofs of Hanoks. Giwa is made out of soil or cement and is a symbolic element of Hanoks. The Heritage series attempts to capture the beauty of various types of Giwa as well as the beauty of the structure that supports the roof. His designs are also defined by subtle and elegant curves, which is a major characteristic of the Hanok. The collection comprises tables, chairs, shelves, storage and seating objects as well as standalone sculptural pieces.