NATIONAL MUSEUM OF LITERATURE
Seoul, Korea, 2021
Location: Seoul, Korea
Total Floor Area: 15,160 sqm / Site Area: 13,248 sqm
Program: Permanent and curated exhibition facilities for literature and historical displays, archives, library, auditorium, educational facilities, offices, and collection storages.
HANGGAN | 行間
The term "Literature" has its origins in the Latin word "litteratura," which signifies "writing formed with letters." As a method of conveying meaning, written words are less direct than other forms of communication that rely on sensory perception. In essence, the room for interpretation in an author's text can vary based on the reader's imagination.
At this juncture, we observe the vacant spaces between the letters or paragraphs, which we refer to as "Hanggan" in Korean. Despite its emptiness, Hanggan holds a vital role in allowing the reader to pause, grasp the meaning of the text, and engage in personal contemplation. We envision the creation of a Museum of Literature, encompassing the concept of Hanggan within its essence.
Architectural Hanggan is created by splitting and moving the building volume outward leaving the center hollow. The Hanggan area stretches through the entire site and engages visitors with multiple entrances. The area permeates into the building, creating various-sized pocket zones where visitors relieve themselves in-between the tour. Floating up the collection storage enables barrier-free movement at the Hanggan level. Grand descending steps followed by a sunken area guides movement to the main lobby and provide a flattened event field named “Spring of Words.” The field is equipped with a digital canvas ready to project visual effects to the ground.
Indoor Hanggan areas at the ground level are surrounded by the glazed wall that brings natural light inside. Pre-function spaces for the exhibit are integrated into the welcoming experience of the lobby. Permanent Exhibit Halls provide a total of 1,850m2 of presentation area, which can function either as two major exhibition spaces or be separated into smaller modular halls, separated by a movable wall system. The Hanggan area between the sections supports or connects the exhibits. While Special Exhibit Hall provides double-height / multi-story space suitable for various types of exhibits. The hall is expandable to the “Spring of Words” to engage outdoor exhibit experiences.
The two main collection storages A and B are in a tall/rectangular shape for maximum efficiency. The area is designed to have minimal exposure to the outside air, allowing historic assets to be preserved safely in a conditioned environment. Storage C, on the other hand, is more public-friendly, which reflects future generation literature in a digital era. Storage systems at this place are more flexible and ready to replace with novel media in the future.
View from the south entry
Meditation Area
Special Exhibit Hall
Event Street
Seminar Lobby
Courtyard
Exhibit Lobby
Permanent Exhibit Hall
Spring of Words
Fall of Words
