REFLECTION ON MY STUDIO WORK: AI-Assisted Reimagining of Gyeongbokgung Palace

Original Project Brief

The project focused on reimagining Gyeongbokgung Palace through the use of Artificial Intelligence while preserving its cultural and architectural identity.

The objective was not to replicate the historic palace, but to explore how traditional Korean architectural elements could be transformed into a contemporary cultural center through AI-assisted design methods.

The project investigated the relationship between heritage preservation, modern architecture, and emerging AI technologies.

Original Design Objectives

The primary objective was to preserve the cultural essence of Gyeongbokgung Palace while developing a contemporary architectural expression suitable for modern society.

Additional objectives included:

• Preserving traditional Korean architectural identity.

• Exploring AI as a conceptual design tool.

• Integrating modern materials and technologies.

• Creating a balance between heritage and innovation.

Design Approach Adopted

The design process began with researching the history and architectural significance of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Key architectural features such as traditional roof geometry, courtyard organization, and decorative elements were identified and used as references.

AI tools including ChatGPT and image-generation platforms were then used to generate multiple architectural concepts. Several prompts were tested and refined to achieve designs that reflected both traditional Korean heritage and contemporary architecture.

The final proposal emerged through an iterative process of AI generation, evaluation, and architectural refinement.

Strengths of the Proposal

Heritage Preservation

The final design successfully maintained recognizable characteristics of traditional Korean architecture while introducing a contemporary architectural language.

AI-Assisted Exploration

AI enabled the rapid generation of multiple design alternatives, allowing broader creative exploration within a short period.

Visual Development

The AI-generated concepts provided strong visual references that accelerated the design process and improved communication of ideas.

Integration of Tradition and Innovation

The project demonstrated how historical architecture can inspire future-oriented design solutions.

Limitations of the Proposal

Conceptual Accuracy

Some AI-generated concepts lacked cultural accuracy and required significant refinement.

Architectural Realism

Certain generated forms were visually impressive but not always practical from a construction perspective.

Dependence on Prompt Quality

The quality of the design outcomes was heavily influenced by the quality and specificity of the prompts provided to the AI system.

What I Learned

• How AI can be integrated into the architectural design process.

• The importance of prompt engineering in generating meaningful design concepts.

• The value of combining human architectural judgment with AI-generated ideas.

• How traditional architectural heritage can be reinterpreted through contemporary design approaches.

Future Improvements

• Develop more detailed architectural and structural solutions.

• Explore additional AI-assisted design iterations.

• Incorporate environmental and sustainability analysis into the AI workflow.

• Further strengthen the relationship between traditional Korean architecture and contemporary cultural spaces.

Conclusion

This project demonstrated that Artificial Intelligence can serve as a powerful design assistant during the conceptual phase of architecture.

While AI accelerated idea generation and visual exploration, human creativity, cultural understanding, and architectural judgment remained essential throughout the design process.

The final proposal represents a collaboration between heritage, technology, and contemporary architectural thinking.