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Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners
Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners
Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners
Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners
Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners
Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners
Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners
Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners
Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners
Shim: The Core,  | International Design Awards Winners

Shim: The Core

UniversitySavannah College of Art and Design
Lead DesignersHyotak Woo
Project LocationSeoul, South Korea
Prize(s)Gold in Cultural / Community Interior Design / Healthcare Facilities / Institutions
Entry Description

Shim is a dementia daycare and therapy center designed to anchor individuals through familiarity, spatial clarity and sensory engagement.

Inspired by the rings of a tree, the layout radiates outward from a central courtyard, symbolizing time and memory. As one moves inward, spaces become more intimate, transitioning from social areas to personal therapy and memory care zones.

The innermost sanctuary, called the 'shim', offers a quiet space for meditation and emotional clarity. Warm wooden surfaces and sensory objects are integrated into the architecture to gently prompt memory and reflect