National Children's Museum of Korea
| Location: | Sejong, South Korea |
|---|---|
| Status: | Under Construction |
| Date: | 2018-present |
Along with winning the competition to masterplan the new National Museum Complex of South Korea, Office Ou was awarded the design of the first three buildings on site, including the National Children’s Museum of South Korea.
The Children’s Museum is designed to be a place for kids to enjoy being kids to the fullest, but also for kids to learn and grow up surrounded by values of civic and environmental stewardship. Thanks to the museum’s forecourt and rear landscape, the experience of the place can change drastically from season to season, making it enjoyable and exciting regardless of the time of year and weather.
The current design of the first step of construction em- bodies many of the decisions and requirements established during the past three years of work. We hope that the Children’s museum will be a playful space for kids and parents to explore, while being flexible enough to accommodate changing exhibitions and varied programming.
The final facade design iterations led us to exploring the use of terracotta extrusions for the National Children’s Museum. The terracotta facades were designed as uneven triangular extrusions that would only be glazed on one side, creating an alternatingly soft or vivid look as one walks around the building.
The landscape of the forecourt is a crucial piece of the design as it welcomes visitors to the museum. This landscape began as a friendly orchard for children and while its design evolved over time with the input of the client body, the aim of creating an immersive, interactive landscape for children to play within nature remained.
