Meet Tae Hyung Kim (’03), an ISKL alumni and proud graduate of the University of Michigan and Cornell University, who has taken his passion for architecture to new heights in the bustling metropolis of New York City. As an Architectural Designer, Tae shapes skylines and creates innovative spaces reflecting form and function. He joined ISKL in Grade 6 in 2001 and remained a student for four years before relocating to the United States in his Sophomore Year. Tae is now thriving in one of the world’s most vibrant design hubs.
Originally from South Korea, Tae arrived in Malaysia knowing very little spoken English and recollects clearly that his “first day at ISKL was a long one; as I struggled to find my way around the expansive school site, not understanding directions and misplacing assignments, it took me some time to adjust to this new school life.” However, after befriending several Korean classmates to befriend and taking English as a Second Language (ESL) lessons to take a firm hold of his English language, Tae started to settle and become accustomed to the city of Kuala Lumpur in the country of Malaysia, and above all, ISKL.
Despite only starting ISKL in Middle School, the influence of his teachers soon became apparent in Tae’s motivation to later train and embark upon a career in Architecture. Participating in art classes with teacher Jaqueline Lian was his first insight into drawing, which then led him to join Ceramics and Visual Arts teacher John Stupka’s technical drawing classes. Through these classes, he found himself inspired and enthralled to the point of no return.
Alongside his academic studies, Tae embraced the many co-curricular opportunities at ISKL. He found that attending the Mural Club, the Strings Ensemble, and Model United Nations (MUN) enhanced school life and helped him form lifelong friendships and memories. One of his fond memories is collaborating with other student artists to paint a mural in the nurse’s office at the Ampang Campus in Selangor, filling the entire wall with underwater sea life creatures. It may have taken some months to complete, but the effort and hard work were rewarded with an incredible artwork valued by the ISKL community for many years.
IASAS is a notable experience at ISKL that enables many students to expand their learning, whether in academic subjects, sports, or the creative and performing arts. Tae remembers participating in the IASAS Cultural Convention as a violinist at the Jakarta International School (now known as Jakarta Intercultural School), connecting with other students from participating schools to unite in what he describes as “performing the universal language of music.'”
A short yet immersive education at ISKL prepared and motivated Tae enough to have the independence and confidence to settle into a boarding school on his move to Massachusetts, U.S.A., in 2005. Upon his graduation, the seed of studying architecture planted at ISKL was soon realized when he gained a place at the University of Michigan to major in Architecture and minor in Art and Design. After graduating, he continued his architectural studies with a Master’s from Cornell University.
Life as an Architectural Designer
It is widely acknowledged that a career in architecture is a journey of dedication and commitment that Tae has embraced wholeheartedly. Throughout his studies, Tae has established relationships through internships with many leading firms, including Slade Architecture, Biber Architects, and StudioTEKA Design, all of which have won project awards and design recognition. For instance, while working for Slade Architecture, Tae worked on Flight Club New York, a mecca for sneaker collectors and urban fashionistas around the world. The firm was responsible for doubling the flagship store in an existing loft building in New York City’s Greenwich Village. As a result of this project’s success, Flight Club New York has been featured internationally in publications and websites. It also won national retail design awards, such as the 2016 Interior Design Magazine Best of Year award, Shining Moment, and the 2011 Interior Design Magazine Best of Year award, Retail. It was also the winner of the 2012 London International Creative Competition, Interior Design. As an architectural designer for Flight Club New York, Tae built the physical model for the retail store.
His positions continue to be fruitful, developing his expertise in the commercial, residential, and hospitality sectors. Through his work at StudioTEKA Design and Freyer Collaborative Architects, Tae has worked on large-scale and international luxury retail projects ranging from Bottega Veneta to Gucci to Zegna. His work with Valerio Architects and H Mart, often alongside award-winning designers, has contributed to creating buildings that promote brand awareness and sustainability innovation.
Tae also worked on a research project at StudioTEKA that culminated in the architectural book ‘2100: A Dystopian Utopia: The City After Climate Change,’ which was featured in numerous design magazines and transformed into a virtual reality showcase. Tae shares, “I played a key role in editing and promoting the book and transforming it into virtual reality, shown in presentations, lectures, and conferences at prestigious institutions that explore climate.”
Currently, Tae is employed by Grand Supercenter Inc. as an architectural designer. Grand Supercenter Inc. proudly stands at the helm of the premier H Mart Asian supermarket chain, which operates a total of 93 H Mart supermarket locations across various states in the United States. As an Architectural Designer, Tae is focused on designing new spaces, retrofits, and expanding commercial spaces, with a vision to transform the perception of space through experiences and visualization. When asked if he has any advice for budding architects, Tae responded, “It is important to be exposed to a diverse range of media and cultures to understand how space is perceived differently and to embrace these variations. I believe architecture is a universal visual language that can be communicated through the experience of space created by buildings, and it is important to see the different levels of detail while also addressing social issues- all with aestheticism”.
Tae Hyung Kim is an individual who has been and continues to be a true advocate of ISKL’s vision—know yourself, care for all, and create a better world- by using his passion and talent in architecture to share his values with the world.
We’d love to hear more from other alumni in Malaysia and around the world. Please share your stories with us at [email protected].
