Characterized by a pyramidal glass structure atop mineral pedestal blocks and surrounded by a carefully defined garden, the building becomes a prominent landmark visible from Seocho Road. The garden functions both as a secluded outdoor space for visitors and as an entry point for pedestrians into Seoripul Park. The project introduces a new walkway from the garden’s northeastern corner, effortlessly linking the museum to Seoripul Park’s existing pathways.’ This strategic placement positions the Seoripul Open Art Storage not merely as a repository for cultural and historical artifacts but also as a harmonious integration of nature, culture, and urban life.
The Pedestal and the Garden
Weaving through the mineral-clad blocks that form the pedestal of the Archive, the Garden draws inspiration from traditional Korean landscape design principles, encompassing Forest, Earth, Water, and Diorama elements. It seamlessly interacts with the architecture of the various mineral blocks – which house both public as well as more private, internal programs – creating an immersive experience that harmonizes interior and exterior spaces. The blocks also strategically frame views of ‘borrowed landscapes’ which vary based on the visitor’s orientation. The Seoripul master plan involves significant excavation in order to transform, transforming the terrain into a terraced landscape. The project is designed to maximize the reuse of excavated gneiss rock, particularly for the pedestal blocks. These volumes house specific functions: the northeastern volume contains the lobby, shop, and library; the southeastern one houses a café;; the northwestern volume handles art delivery; and the southwestern one contains an artwork elevator. The special exhibition program is situated between the volumes on the ground floor and basement level one, with both levels linked through vertical circulation routes. The stepped auditorium, centrally positioned, integrates seamlessly into the special exhibitions program.
The Archive
Four climatic zones are stacked atop each other within the archive block. From Levels Two to Five The archived collections are organized by material and corresponding climatic conditions. Concentrating vertical circulation for visitors, art handling, and technical systems on the south side of the building in a functional spine allows the rest of the floorplate to remain open and flexible, accommodating evolving curatorial and visitor accessibility concepts.
Each face of the archive’s pyramidal envelope creates a specific, intentional link with its surroundings through cutouts in the facade – to the east, the envelope is cut to indicate the main entrance; on the north side, the façade openings allow views towards Seoripul park; while on the west, they allow views of the Han River.
The Eye
A cone-shaped void is formed within the archival volume, facilitating visual connections between the ground floor and the different archival levels. This glazed cone is equipped with display cases facing the archive areas, showcasing artifacts that embody the essence of the archive.
The Gap
The façade of the pyramid steps back on the sixth level, creating a visual gap between the archive floors and the top portion of the building. The setback of the restaurant and archive administration offices creates a continuous terrace that offers panoramic views in all directions. The width of this terrace varies based on the adjacent program; an expansive outdoor area facing Seoripul Park provides the restaurant with ample outdoor seating.
A long atrium enables visual connections from the Restaurant to the level of art conservation above, revealing a program to visitors that is usually concealed behind closed doors in conventional archive buildings.
The Crown
The building ends on the 7th floor with a one-storey block that extends the geometry of the pyramidal volume of the archive below. This section houses the entire conservation program. While the conservation blocks are situated at the perimeter, the center around the downward-open atrium remains an open collective workspace.
Sustainability
The project’s objective is to achieve carbon neutrality within a 50-year lifespan. Our sustainability strategy centers around five key impact areas.
- The optimized structure significantly reduces concrete usage, while prioritizing high recycled content concrete.
- Energy consumption is lowered through passive strategies, including limited window openings, a well-insulated structure to mitigate energy losses, and efficient systems.
- By integrating a geothermal heat pump linked to geothermal boreholes, low-carbon heating and cooling are ensured, distributed throughout the building. This addition establishes the building’s energy supply reliant solely on local and renewable sources.
- Photovoltaic elements installed on the roof and the zigzag facades, to generate electricity directly consumed by the building for its operation.
- Rainwater is collected and stored in a tank, utilized as an alternative to potable water for toilet flushes and indoor cleaning.
