Nahyun Hwang

Nahyun Hwang is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Architecture at Columbia GSAPP, where her advanced studios have been investigating the topics of knowledge institutions, new notions of environment, and emergent typologies of habitation at the intersection of architecture and urbanism. Nahyun Hwang is a licensed architect and a founding partner of N H D M, an NYC-based collaborative practice for design and research in architecture and urbanism. The studio pursues an expanded practice working across disciplinary borders and in a wide range of scales and modes of output, often in a direct dialogue with the cultural, political, and economic complexities of the contemporary built environment. The work of N H D M has been recognized through numerous supports and awards, including the 2020 Architectural Record Design Vanguard Award, the 2019 Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts grant, 2019 DOMUS’ 100+ best architecture firms, the 2018 AIANY New Practices New York award, 2012, 2014, and 2018 AIANY Design Honor Awards among others, and the firm’s work has been exhibited and presented at global venues, including the17th International Architecture Exhibition at the 2021 Venice Biennale, the 14th International Architecture Exhibition at the 2014 Venice Biennale, the 5th and 6th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam, and Storefront for Art and Architecture, the Center for Architecture New York, UMMA Stenn Gallery, and the Cornell University Hartell Gallery. Recent projects include a 12,000 square feet reconfiguration of Nam June Paik Art Center in Yong-In, Korea, and “Interim Urbanism: Youth, Dwelling, City (New York),” a research and design project that explores the history and the future of youth dwelling in New York City, commissioned by the 2019 Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, and the forthcoming publication “Now You Belong Here: Small Island Disappearing States.”

Until founding N H D M, Hwang practiced as a Senior Associate at James Corner Field Operations and played a critical role in the design and implementation of the firm’s High Line Section 1 and Section 2 as the Lead Designer (2004-2006) and Lead Project Designer (2007-2010), heading a multidisciplinary design team of architects, landscape architects, and others. Prior to Field Operations, she practiced at Stan Allen Architects; Herzog & de Meuron; OMA; and the studio of Rafael Moneo, contributing to a wide range of built and speculative projects. Hwang’s continuing research on post-developmental urbanism has been supported by the University of Michigan Muschenheim fellowship and New York State Council of Art Independent Projects Grant. Hwang holds a master’s degree in Architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.