WGNB: Another Kind of Harmony

WGNB: Another Kind of Harmony explores a groundbreaking design philosophy led by visionary designer and architect Jonghwan Baek. At the heart of his work is the concept of jeophwa—literally “contact-harmony“—a design logic that transcends conventional binaries, offering a new way to harmonize opposites, contrasts, and pluralities. In a world where conflicting elements often vie for dominance, Baek presents jeophwa as a tool to create spaces that embody balance, complexity, and fluidity. Baek proposes that beauty and meaning emerge from integrating contrasting elements into a cohesive whole. His method redefines our understanding of space and aesthetics, showing that complexity and contrast can coexist within harmonious structures.

Jonghwan Baek (*1979, Daegu, Korea), a Seoul-based spatial designer and architect, founded the interdisciplinary design studio WGNB in 2015. Known for its engaging spaces rooted in the Korean aesthetics, WGNB has won the Dezeen Awards and the FRAME “Designer of the Year.”