[Opinion] Dreaming of Medici and Guell in Korean Construction

K-culture is a global sensation. Our movies, dramas, popular music, and classical music are crossing various world stages and sweeping first place at numerous award ceremonies. It is truly proud to see South Korea rise as an advanced cultural powerhouse. Beyond the passion of Korean cultural artists, the efforts of companies and organizations that have continuously supported their talents both materially and spiritually must never be underestimated. The case where individual passion and corporate support come together to blossom the finest culture can be easily found in the history of Western architecture.

Florence, Italy, during the Renaissance period after the Middle Ages. The background that allowed the many geniuses who gathered in this city to bloom into brilliant cultural arts was none other than the full support of the Medici family, who were wealthy at the time. The Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, regarded as the gateway to the Renaissance era, was left as a building without a dome for a full 51 years until it was entrusted to the genius architect Brunelleschi. The dome of this Florence cathedral has a diameter of 45 meters, equivalent to half a soccer field, and a height of 33 meters, equivalent to an 11-story apartment building. It is the largest brick dome in the world. Brunelleschi adopted the double shell construction method instead of the medieval flying buttress technique and completed this magnificent dome over 16 years using 4 million bricks. It is widely agreed that this architectural masterpiece could not have been born without the generous support of the Medici family, the Renaissance-era Florence magnates. The Medici family played a major role in brilliantly opening the Renaissance era through their extensive support of famous artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

Barcelona, Spain, the hometown of the world-renowned architect Gaud?, is another representative case that shone through the financial support of wealthy patrons. The support of Spanish businessman Count G?ell played a significant role in earning Barcelona the reputation of being an architectural museum city. Gaud?’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, began construction in 1882 and is still under construction, with completion planned for 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaud?’s death. Anyone who has visited even once is left in awe, as its architectural beauty goes beyond admiration to evoke wonder. Barcelona suffers from overcrowding every year due to tourists from around the world who come to appreciate Gaud?’s works. Without the financial backing of the wealthy patron G?ell, it might have been difficult for Barcelona to gain such fame today.

Architecture is said to be a mirror of the times. Architecture is also changing to fit the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The role of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, and robots has become more important than a few outstanding genius architects. Some call this the era of Architecture 4.0. It is no exaggeration to say that the meeting of culture and technology of an era is realized through architecture. Now that the world is enthusiastic about Korean culture and technology, shouldn’t the level of architecture also be upgraded? For this, proactive investment in technology is essential.

According to a professor at Dalian University of Technology in China, a personal acquaintance of the author, Chinese construction companies invest more than 5% of their annual sales in advanced technology development. Compared to Korea’s reality, this is unimaginable. In Korea, most companies’ research and development expenses do not even reach 1% of their sales. The global construction market, once dominated by Western countries such as the United States and Europe, has long since shifted its hegemony to China. Among the top 10 companies announced by the world-renowned American construction magazine ENR, eight are Chinese companies. This is undoubtedly the result of the strong economic power of China and the bold support of its companies working in ensemble.

It is no exaggeration to say that the dreams of genius architects Brunelleschi and Gaud? were realized by the Medici and G?ell families. It was possible because of the passion for change and innovation combined with bold investment. Where can we find the passion for change and innovation in the architecture world suitable for the Fourth Industrial Revolution era and someone to support it?

Cha Hee-seong, Professor, Department of Architecture, Ajou University

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.