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Madang Project Design Competition for the Korean Museum of Urbanism and Architecture

competition Lee Sowoon Aug 12, 2025


SPACE August 2025 (No. 693) 

On June 16, the winning proposals for the Madang Project Design Competition for the Korean Museum of Urbanism and Architecture (KMUA) were announced. Prior to its completion in the second half of 2026, XORBIS (principal, Kim Yongmin), currently undertaking the exhibition design for the opening exhibition of the KMUA in Sejong Administrative City, is hosting this competition to define the key characteristics and function of two sunken courtyard space (madang) arranged along the north–south area. The competition was held under the theme of ¡®Nature and Artificiality within the Museum¡¯. For the southern courtyard, subtitled ¡®Play¡¯, a collaborative entry by HYPERSPANDREL (principal, Chon Jaewoo) + Ko Jaehyub + Oh Naye was selected as the winning design. Their proposal envisioned an artificial forest composed of tree-like sculptural elements made from lexan, a material commonly used in roof or canopy constructions. By applying the concept of a ¡®forest canopy¡¯ to lexan, each panel was shaped into a tree. These lexan ¡®trees¡¯, referencing the silhouettes of Korea¡¯s indigenous evergreen species, are arrayed on a regular 2.5m grid across the courtyard. The semi-translucent panels overlap and shift depending on both time and viewing angle, generating dynamic shadow patterns and a variety of visual scenes that contrast with the simplicity of the overall spatial composition. Meanwhile, for the northern courtyard, themed ¡®Rest¡¯, the winning proposal came from a joint team ALIVEUS (co-principals, Oh Seungwhan, Jung Hoeyoung, Kang Hansol, Kim Taekyung) + DESIGN STUDIO JIREH (principal, Cho Yongchul). Their design creates a primeval forest where visitors can sensorially experience the mechanism of nature, offering an immersive, contemplative experience. The two artificial forests proposed for both southern and northern courtyards will be constructed with budgets of 250 million KRW and 500 million KRW, respectively. 


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