Kumamoto Artpolis is an innovative urban redevelopment and architectural culture project in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, which began in 1988. It has created a variety of artistic buildings designed by many famous architects and is recognized as an important model of sustainable urban development internationally. It is a project in Japan that aims to create excellent architecture in collaboration with local residents and reflects the voice of the region. It is a project that recognizes excellent architecture today and holds on-site projects, lectures, symposiums, and exhibitions to plan, promote, and develop human resources.

Kumamoto Prefecture holds an architectural exhibition every four years to promote the achievements of the project and the importance of architectural culture projects. This year, the Kumamoto Art Polis Architectural Exhibition 2024 was held under the theme of “Sustainable Will - Kumamoto Art Polis 36 Years,” and a tour was planned along with a symposium to invite students and university and architectural officials from overseas. About 40 people participated, including graduate students from the Department of Spatial Design at Kookmin University Graduate School, undergraduate and graduate students from the Department of Architecture at Hongik University, and architectural officials from the Korean Institute of Architects.

At the Kumamoto Artpolis Symposium held on the 23rd, under the theme of “Public Architecture is Everyone's Home,” the thoughts of young Japanese architects, including Pritzker Prize winner Toyo Ito, were shared, and discussions on the topic were held to contribute to the development of public architecture, as well as views on questions from Taiwan and South Korea. There was also time to create a forum for people from various fields to communicate through an exchange meeting.

At the Kumamoto Artpolis Symposium held on the 23rd, under the theme of “Public Architecture is Everyone's Home,” the thoughts of young Japanese architects, including Pritzker Prize-winning architect Toyo Ito, were shared and discussions on the topic were held to contribute to the development of public architecture, as well as views on questions from Taiwan and South Korea.

Afterwards, the symposium participants had the opportunity to visit famous and private architectural sites in the Fukuoka and Saga areas for two days, organized by the Japan Study Tour Committee, to see how artistic and original architecture reflects the local identity and contributes to the development of urban architectural culture.

In this regard, the Department of Spatial Design at Kookmin University Graduate School plans to focus more on helping students gain a creative and professional design ability based on their understanding of space and experience the value of urban and architectural culture through various international exchanges.