SPACE December 2024 (No. 685)
Songhyeondong Cultural Center (tentative name) International Design Competition ©JEJEHAAP Architects
International Design Competition The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with the Korean Institute of Architects, announced the winning design for the Songhyeondong Cultural Center (tentative name) International Design Competition (covered in SPACE No. 684) on Oct. 25. The winning proposal, titled ‘Restoration of the time’, was sub mitted by JEJEHAAP Architects (co-principals, Kim Jinhwa, Park Jaydi). This competition was conceived to construct a new storage and exhibition facility that will manage and share the artworks donated to the nation by the family of the late Samsung Group chairman, Lee Kunhee. ‘Restoration of the time’ was praised for its multi-dimensional representation and connections made through use of pine trees in the philosophical spirit of ‘Koreanness’. The winning design incorporates a central courtyard pattern often seen in traditional Korean architecture across three buildings. Five permanent exhibition spaces and one special exhibition space are arranged within these three buildings, showcasing a flexible configuration tailored to the exhibition content. The building’s exterior uses domestic pine wood to evoke the memory of Korea’s iconic pine-covered hills and forge a link to the present-day Songhyeon-dong Park. According to the architects, the charred façade symbolises Korea’s resilience and long history of endurance in the face of challenges to protect the country’s future. Songhyeondong Cultural Center is expected to commence construction in Dec. 2025, with its opening planned for 2028.
