Architect Hong Tae-sun speaks during a lecture organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) at the Embassy of Egypt in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of CICI

Architect Hong Tae-sun, CEO of YKH Associates, presented a lecture on “Music and Architecture” at the Embassy of Egypt in Seoul on Tuesday, sharing thoughts on the intersections of music, design and problem-solving in architecture.

Organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), the event drew an audience of diplomats and business leaders.

Welcoming the guests, Egyptian Ambassador to Korea Khaled Abdel Rahman highlighted the architectural characteristics of the embassy building, describing its “floating structure and its resemblance to the Rosetta Stone” — a nod to Egypt's rich historical narratives.

Hong has a unique background as his career transitioned from music and premed studies to architecture at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. He served as CEO and design director at Yamasaki Associates, a firm known for designing the original World Trade Center in New York, before founding YKH Associates.

In his lecture, Hong delved into the similarities between music and architecture.

“Just as a composer must read and internalize musical notation, an architect must be able to visualize floor plans, sections and elevations to truly understand and shape space ... If a song is a building, then verses are its structure, the facade is its melody and percussion and bass are its framework,” he said.

“When walking down a street, we notice the interplay of narrow and wide spaces — just as in music, where rhythm and pauses create balance. Architecture and music both rely on repetition and rhythm to achieve harmony.”

He shared insights from his vast experience, including designing over 600 projects worldwide in his nearly four-decade career, emphasizing the growing importance of sustainable and nature-inspired architecture.

"Lately, I've been fascinated by wood," he said, explaining how he challenged the prevalent belief in Korea that concrete is the only durable construction material by using the bark of trees as a mold for concrete or mixing wood, concrete and steel.

Hong's core philosophy — “architecture as a solution” — advocates for designs that evolve based on context, function and the needs of the client rather than adhering to a rigid style.

"Architecture is not about imposing a personal style but about finding the right solution for each situation,” he said. "Building design is about subtraction. Even when you take things away, a structure can still be beautiful.”