Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron has unveiled its design for the cubic Seoripul Open Artwork Storage constructing, which is able to turn out to be an archive for 3 museums in Seoul, South Korea.
Set to be constructed on the jap fringe of Seoripul Park, the large dice will home the collections of Seoul Museum of Artwork, Seoul Museum of Craft Artwork and Seoul Museum of Historical past.
Landscaped gardens that tie into the park additionally kind a key a part of the design, aiming to ascertain the constructing as a “dynamic civic house” in Seoul, Herzog & de Meuron mentioned.
As soon as full, Seoripul Open Artwork Storage will likely be outlined by its distinctive cubic kind that’s enclosed by translucent glass panels and positioned on prime of a sequence of stone blocks.
“Past its position as a storage facility, it aspires to be a dynamic civic house for Seoul residents and world guests,” mentioned Herzog & de Meuron.
“Characterised by a pyramidal glass construction atop mineral blocks and surrounded by a rigorously delineated backyard, the constructing turns into a distinguished landmark seen from Seocho Highway, capturing the eye of passersby,” continued the studio.
The majority of Seoripul Open Artwork Storage will include archival amenities, enveloping ranges one to 4 of the constructing. The collections will likely be organized relying on their required storage circumstances, catered for by way of the design of various “climatic zones”.
This glass-clad quantity will likely be damaged up by slim openings and cutouts. On the east facet, it would overhang the stone bases to kind a sheltered entrance space.
To maximise cupboard space, circulation and technical areas are designed on the south facet of the plan.
“Concentrating vertical circulation for guests, artwork dealing with, and technical techniques on the south facet of the constructing in a purposeful backbone permits the remainder of the floorplate to stay open and versatile,” mentioned the studio.
A focus of the inside will likely be a glazed, conical atrium, extending up from the bottom ground to the sixth and wrapped by show instances to supply guests glimpses of the archive.
Above the archive areas, the fifth ground of the constructing will include each administrative zones and a public restaurant, illuminated by a steady band of glazing.
The restaurant could have views into the ground above, which will likely be devoted to artwork conservation – an exercise normally “hid behind closed doorways in standard archive buildings”.
These conservation areas crown the constructing. Right here, extra non-public areas will line the perimeter whereas an open workspace will encompass the central atrium.
Seoripul Open Artwork Storage’s blocky base volumes will include circulation and amenities together with a restaurant, store, library and auditorium. They are going to every be fashioned utilizing rock excavated from the positioning and completed with giant areas of glazing.
“The masterplan requires important intervention within the present topography by way of excavation,” mentioned Herzog & de Meuron.
“The brand new constructing areas, particularly the 4 pedestal blocks beneath the present topography, are conceived as mineral volumes, aiming to maximise gneiss rock reuse from the excavation,” the studio continued.
Finishing Seoripul Open Artwork Storage will likely be two underground ranges housing exhibition areas and parking, in addition to the encircling gardens.
The gardens will likely be landscaped utilizing conventional Korean gardens as a reference and open to guests to each the constructing and Seoripul Park. These will likely be linked by a path.
“This strategic placement positions the Seoripul Open Artwork Storage not merely as a repository for cultural and historic artefacts but additionally as a harmonious integration of nature, tradition, and concrete life,” mentioned Herzog & de Meuron.
Based on Herzog & de Meuron, it’s concentrating on carbon neutrality by way of each operational and embodied carbon emissions, throughout the constructing’s 50-year lifespan.
It mentioned this will likely be achieved by way of measures together with the usage of concrete with a “excessive recycled content material”, passive air flow methods, a geothermal warmth pump and photovoltaic panels.
“Contemplating the constructing’s 50-year lifespan, the emissions averted by the built-in photovoltaic system on the roof and facade exceed the emissions produced through the constructing’s development and operation,” it mentioned. “This achievement leads to attaining carbon neutrality.”
Seoripul Open Artwork Storage is anticipated to start development in 2025 and attain completion in 2028.
Established in Basel in 1978, Herzog & de Meuron is a RIBA Royal Gold Medal and Pritzker Structure Prize-winning studio led by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.
Its different current proposals embody an extension of London’s Liverpool Road station and Calder Gardens in Philadelphia, which is able to home works by American sculptor Alexander Calder.
The photographs are courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron.
