A recent competition sponsored by the National Agency for Administrative City Construction aimed to find a comprehensive design for the new Korean Museum of Architecture and Urbanism (KMUA) in Sejong, South Korea. The winning team was recently announced, along with plans for the project.

The final design came from a team made up of Alejandro Zaera-Polo, Maider Llaguno Munitxa, Ivaylo Nachev, Carlota Mendez, Claudia Baquedano and Claudia Zucca of AZPML, in collaboration with Yukyung Kim from UKST. Their green design focuses squarely on illuminating architecture as a science and art, while respecting Korean history and the environment.
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The team sought to address the environmental issues caused by urbanization with the understanding that cities are responsible for an estimated 70% of global carbon emissions and 66% of energy consumption. What better way to highlight the issue than to design the KMUA as an example of environmentally responsible architecture?

With this idea at the core, the team worked with a foundation of four primary goals. The first goal was to exemplify the best practices in construction, including urban mining, the preservation of resources and the reduction of embodied energy, carbon emissions, construction waste and pollution. Putting this into practice, the team designed oversized scaffolding using reused steel from decommissioned buildings. This framework will house examples of real architecture. Additionally, natural lighting pairs with tiered outdoor spaces and indoor skylights.

The second goal was to honor Korean architecture with traditional Hanok roofs. Considering the building’s location and purpose, the team prioritized creating a structure that fits into the landscape.

Also, the team aimed to pay tribute to a time in Korean development that saw a destroyed national economy blossom into an example for the world. Much of this happened through urban transformation, and the KMUA will stand as a tribute to that growth.

The fourth design goal was to create a space that will not only function as a museum but also provide educational, multimedia and workshop facilities. Primarily an exhibition space, the structure will house both permanent and revolving exhibitions of architectural features.

In short, the museum will feature examples of architecture in both the displays and the building itself. To achieve energy efficiency, the building will use glass and natural ventilation. Additionally, the building enclosure is designed as a high-performance floor-to-ceiling glazed membrane, with embedded heat recovery vents.

Demonstrating a dedication to sustainable building, the entire structure will abide by the Design for Disassembly doctrine. This means the materials used in construction can be disassembled and reused at the end of their usable life as part of KMUA.
Via ArchDaily
Images via AZPML