Il Hwan Kim Kim

Kim, Il Hwan is a designer and researcher exploring informality and uncertainty in architectural construction. His areas of interest include material-based design, digital fabrication, and the relationship between labor and technology. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture, and director of architecture design studio naïve practice.

He previously worked at the Self-Assembly Lab at MIT, Link Arkitektur in Oslo, Kjellander Sjöberg Arkitektkontor in Stockholm, and BIG in NYC. Kim holds a Master of Science in Architecture Studies degree from MIT and a B.Arch from IIT.

Education

SMArchS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Interests

Architecture construction, Fabrication technology, Construction ecology, Material-based design

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Naïve Practice, Member (Director)

Awards

• Cornell Design Teaching Fellow Research Fund
• MIT Master of Science in Architecture Studies Thesis Prize
• MISTI Mexico independent research fund
• MIT Graduate Fellowship 
• Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award
• AIA Small Project Award
• AIA Chicago Award in Architecture
• Horwitz Scholarship Award
• Danforth Scholarship Award

Publications

Inflatable Formwork: Self-Erecting Pneumatic Formwork for Vertical Concrete Elements
Conference Paper, peer-reviewed. ACADIA 2025 

Adaptive Midsole: Granular Convection for Use-Activated Custom Footwear
Conference Paper, peer-reviewed. ACADIA 2024

Density Gradient Concrete Fabrication with Injection 3D Gypsum Printing
Conference Paper, peer-reviewed. CAADRIA 2024

3D Concrete Printing Frame Structure in Granular Medium
Conference Paper, peer-reviewed. CAADRIA 2024

Projects

KAMiLY house (built), Almost Useful Tools (exhibition), Maily building renovation (under construction)

Professional Activities

Ø-Lingual Studio
Founding partner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. London, UK

Self-Assembly-Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research Assistant
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Link Arkitektur
Arkitekt
Oslo, Norway

Kjellander Sjöberg
Arkitekt
Stockholm, Sweden

B.I.G. Architecture
Architectural Designer(Junior)
New York City, New York, USA

Teaching

Past

Syracuse University 
Lecturer, School of Architecture Syracuse, New York, USA

Cornell University  
Design Teaching Fellow, Department of Architecture Ithaca, New York, USA