The dominant feature of OMA’s design is a massive black box, which confronts the visitor immediately at the entrance.
Photo courtesy OMA
The recently completed Child Education and Culture Center, designed by Rem Koolhaas of OMA, is part of the Samsung Museum of Art Complex.
The building officially opened on October 13, 2004.
Located in Hannam-Dong, a residential district near the city centre, the complex comprises two other buildings by Mario Botta and Jean Nouvel for the permanent collection of traditional Korean art and modern/contemporary art collections respectively. The three buildings converge into a central lobby and information area located in the OMA building.
The museum complex entry is reached via a a descending ramp through the OMA building. The sunken basement-level lobby area links the two museums and the Child and Culture Center together.
Photo courtesy OMA
The dominant feature of OMA’s design is a massive black box, which confronts the visitor immediately at the entrance.
The box is suspended within large excavation in the undulating topography creating varying light conditions within the space.
Circulation is conceived around the experience of the black box by descending under it, into it and moving above it. This movement provides the visitor a rich experience of the dynamic relationship between the building, the site and the city.
Total area: 13,500 square meters
Client: Samsung Museum of Art (Leeum)
Architects: OMA
The 27,000 square meters Samsung Museum of Art Complex masterplan was designed by OMA in 1997. Local architect and engineer Samoo worked with OMA on the realization, while Arup of London was engineer of the master plan and the initial design for the museum.
Leeum Samsung Museum of Art is an initiative of the Samsung Cultural Foundation, which provides support for cultural and artistic activities. Other cultural institutions that are part of the Samsung Cultural Foundation are the Ho-Am Art Museum, Rodin Art Gallery and Samsung Children’s Museum.
