Seoul Hall Of Urbanism & Architecture

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As rice stalks bow down with the weight of their grains, so does this place humbly present itself amidst buildings that ruled an era. Deoksugung, the starting point of the Great Korean Empire with a backdrop of 500 years of the Joseon Dynasty, along with the Anglican Church of Korea (1926, 1996) incorporating both Western and Korean architectural styles, the Seoul City Council formerly the Bumin Building of Keijo (1935), and the Kyungsung Prefecture Office (1926) now serving as the Seoul Library, with the new Seoul City Hall (2012) emerging behind it, is located in Sejong-daero. This road encapsulates the timeline of modern history from the Joseon Dynasty to the present. Introducing spaces like #MyeongryeSungji, we learned to show respect to a Hanok building constructed in 1938. The Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall, despite its capability to stand out, chooses not to, displaying humility similar to the surrounding buildings. Only the first floor, equivalent to the height of Deoksugung's walls, is visible above ground with the rest submerged underground. The site was originally occupied by a building made for the Chosun Communications Association by the Japanese in 1937, which seemed disconnected from Deoksugung and its surroundings. Demolishing such a building, the newly constructed 'Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall' provides a clear answer to how it should interact with its environment, shining a humble light on its neighboring buildings. Hidden behind existing structures, the orange-roofed Anglican Church is now visible from anywhere, and the oppressive buildings from Japan's remnants no longer overlook our traditional houses, making strolls in the urban palace more enjoyable. 'Seoul Maru', serving as a low observation deck, offers views from the Great Korean Empire to modern times. True to its name, the hall critically views our city through various exhibitions, sharing with citizens. Both #MyeongryeSungji and this exhibition hall understand too well that shining alone only makes the surroundings darker. We recommend a visit here, especially during spring to enjoy a walk by the stone wall of Deoksugung.