Meier Partners' South Korean museum seeks to create a harmonious relationship between art and nature

For the design of the newly completed Sorol Art Museum in Gangneung, South Korea, Meier Partners drew from Korean Confucianism to achieve a simplicity of form, material, and composition and a harmonious relationship with nature. The museum is scheduled to open on February 14. It is the firm’s first completed project since restructuring as Meier Partners.

Owned by Gyo-Dong Park Holdings, the 34,678-sf museum is located on a public park’s hilltop in the city center, with a sea and mountain backdrop. The park and its pedestrian paths connect with the art center, and the building’s ground floor is situated on a high plateau with panoramic views. While the galleries provide controlled natural light, visitors can enjoy views of the park throughout the building’s circulation spaces.

The three-floor museum is configured around a central courtyard, a feature inspired by traditional Korean architecture. The building is organized into three main sections: the north wing, which is a large, cantilevered pavilion; a cube containing the gallery and offices; and a transparent pavilion housing the main entrance, lobby, and café. Circulation follows a T-shape that provides opportunities for interaction with the outdoor exhibits, gardens, and reflecting pool.

Photo: Yongbaek Le, courtesy Meier Partners

“The concept behind the Sorol Museum was to create a serene and simple yet memorable space that presents a harmonious blend of art, architecture, and nature,” Sharon Oh, project architect and manager, said in a statement.

The exhibition spaces are contained in a tall structure topped with a skylight that has opaque-translucent glass for diffused lighting. Modestly sized windows have been strategically placed to provide controlled natural light and offer views of the park while still maximizing wall space for exhibits. In each gallery, curators can control the amount of natural and artificial light to meet the requirements of the art.

The building’s main materials comprise white exposed concrete, aluminum curtain wall, aluminum composite panel, glass, and stone. The construction manager was Asia General Construction.

Sorol Art Museum in Gangneung, South Korea, Meier Partners — Photo: Yongbaek Le, courtesy Meier Partners

At an estimated budget of $1 billion, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is considered the largest museum in the world dedicated to one civilization. The superlatives don’t end there: It’s also the largest museum in Egypt, the largest Pharaonic museum in the world, and one of the world’s leading scientific, historical, and archeological study centers.