Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

In the heart of Korea’s capital city, One O One architects completed a renovation with large glazed surfaces for the Onjium cultural institution.

The project by One O One architects consists of an existing property renovation, featuring large glazed surfaces and an elongated L-shaped plan. The site is located in the very heart of the city of Seoul, in South Korea, close to the Gyeongbokgung palace. Here, activities dealing with research on traditional Korean culture take place, hosted by Onjium, a cultural institution founded in 2013.

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, Seoul, South Korea, 2018. Photo Inchul Kim

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, concept

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, plan

Rigorous lines frame mountains in a cultural foundation in Seoul

ONE O ONE architects, Onjium, sections

Linked to the non-profit private organization Arumjigi Culture Keepers Foundation, Onjium’s mission is to bring together the country’s tradition and the dynamism of modern society, making artisans and designers meet. The program is organised around three different expressions of Korean traditional culture: cuisine, clothing and housing.

The studios and offices of each field find their place in the venue, that develops in six floors in total, two of which are in the basement. The site, as well as the building itself, have an elongated shape, divided in two volumes. The main volume faces the street and develops in four floors. Connected to this volume through a bridging walkway, a second lower volume hosts offices the clothing studio.

Large glazed surfaced framine the surrounding landscape and, on the ground floor, blur the boundaries between the building and the exteriors. This characteristic of the building embody the mission of the institution, aiming to bring the identity and values of Korean traditions into the future.

  • Onjium
  • Seoul, South Korea
  • cultural center
  • ONE O ONE architects
  • Wook Choi
  • Eunbi Go, Eunsun Park, Antonio Agresti, Davide Fracasso
  • Eun-structure
  • 1.286 sqm
  • 2018