Overview

Dezeen and the Kia Design Team have launched a new video series that places Kia’s latest electric car models in conversation with contemporary South Korean architecture. The first film in the series takes viewers to Sayuwon, a vast arboretum and cultural park near Daegu, where Kia’s EV9 is introduced against a backdrop of striking landscapes and architectural landmarks. I worked on this project as both Co-Director, Director of Photography and Editor. 

Sayuwon began in 2004 as a preservation site for quince trees and has since grown into a unique destination that blends nature, design, and art. The park is home to a range of architectural works, including a concrete art pavilion by Álvaro Siza with Carlos Castanheira, as well as projects by leading Korean architects Seung H-Sang and Choi Wook. These structures, set within landscaped gardens and walking trails, create a space where architecture and nature meet in subtle but powerful ways.

Against this setting, the Kia EV9 takes on a sculptural presence of its own. With its clean lines, faceted surfaces, and Kia’s distinctive digital tiger face, the fully electric SUV resonates with the geometric strength of the surrounding architecture. By situating the car within Sayuwon, the film not only highlights the EV9’s design language but also connects it to a wider cultural landscape. Produced by Dezeen in partnership with Kia, this first installment sets the tone for a series that celebrates design innovation across mobility and architecture.

DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

NILS CLAUSS

PRODUCTION

A DEZEEN PRODUCTION IN COLLABORATION WITH CONTENTED