Illustrator Ami Shin guides children in creating imaginative homes inspired by traditional Korean Hanok houses and their vibrant details

Sharjah, April 25, 2025

What do you get when you mix traditional Korean rooftops, colourful cut-outs, and a lot of imagination? A room full of young architects with dreams as big as castles and as thoughtful as greenhouses.

Held on Thursday as part of the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Exhibition, the “My Wonderful House” art workshop saw children aged 8 to 15 get involved in a hands-on session led by acclaimed South Korean illustrator Ami Shin.

Inspired by Hanok – a traditional Korean house with graceful giwa (flower-shaped tiled roofs), jangdokdae pots for storing kimchi, and the ondol underfloor heating system – the session invited participants to explore what their own dream homes might look like.

“I wanted the children to think about what makes a home unique,” said Shin, who travelled all the way from her home in Ulsan, South Korea, to lead the session. “We talked about shapes, colours, and traditional Korean design, but in the end, it’s about imagination. Each house is its own invention.”

From science labs to art museums

Shin began with a narrative about Ian, a fictional architect, and his three friends – Martin the scientist, Raphael the artist, and Valentino the gardener ­– each of whom requested a dream home tailored to their passion. The young participants were then asked to imagine what they would build if they were in Ian’s shoes.

“I loved Raphael’s idea the most,” said Egyptian Malik Ahmed, 12, from Al Itqan American School. “He wanted a house like an art museum, and I made mine with a dome for a ceiling where I could hang paintings.”

For Malik’s classmate Yousef Majdi, 13, from Syria, it was Martin’s experimental lab-home that stood out: “I built a tower with a telescope and a robot room. I think Martin would really like it!”

During the interactive session, Shin introduced the concept of “chilkyo” – a seven-piece geometric puzzle that encourages creativity through shape-play. Using colourful paper, the children cut, folded, and assembled their houses from scratch, each design given a name and a story.

Nine-year-old Emirati Shamsa Al Serkal imagined a garden home filled with secret books and flowers that bloom in different colours depending on the time of day.

“I want a house that changes with the sky,” she said, showing her paper cutout shaped like a blooming sunflower. “It’s like dreaming even when you’re awake.”

As the children presented their creations, Shin walked among the tables, offering encouragement and wide smiles. “It’s not about getting it perfect,” she said. “It’s about creating a space that feels wonderful to you. That’s what design is. That’s what storytelling is.”

The workshop is part of SCRF 2025’s broader theme “Dive Into Books”, where over 600 activities across literature, science, and the arts offer young minds the chance to connect with ideas from around the world—one workshop, one page, and one paper house at a time.

–  ENDS –