Sejong is a city still under construction, to become the new administrative capital of Korea. As part of a larger masterplan the National Museum of Architecture and Urbanism reflects this development. It aims to be a dynamic museum that engages the public not only through exhibitions but also by presenting itself as an innovative example of contemporary architecture: ecological in all considerations, built of sustainable materials, highly accessible and flexible in its structure, to adapt to changing needs over time.

The most distinctive element of the building is the folded timber roof, reminiscent of a mountain range. This large canopy offers a sense of shelter, and functions as an intelligent skin made of two translucent layers that control the building’s climate, collect solar energy and filter the light.

The space beneath folds into a canyon-like atrium that connects the exhibition floors via generous, landscaped steps. Sunken courtyards with dense greenery offer natural shaded places for visitors to linger. All public spaces are arranged in such a way that visitors gain an immediate insight into the cultural programs as they enter the museum. The free-formed interstitial spaces are contrasted by rectilinear galleries that enclose the central space in an enfilade. The gallery spaces vary in size, proportion and lighting conditions: top lit with natural light from the canyon, lit from the side through the gardens or as ‘black boxes’ with controlled artificial light. This way the museum offers a wide range of rooms for changing exhibitions.