News of the completion of Meier Partners’ design for the Sorol Art Museum in Gangneung, South Korea, was recently released. The firm’s first completed project since the 2021 restructure, the 336,500-square-foot project aims to provide a platform for an immersive communication between Korean artists and the outside world.

A dual idea that organizes space into introverted and extroverted inter-dynamics based on the aesthetic theory of Korean Confucian philosophy defines the interior structure of the building. The architects claim that the external design makes use of the hillside’s natural topography to showcase the artwork within to guests on a pedestal, further solidifying the idea that architecture and nature go hand in hand.

The enormous, skylit main exhibition space and the smaller galleries will feature light sources that curators can adjust, both artificial and natural. Tens of thousands of people are anticipated to travel the two hours outside of Seoul each year, and in an announcement about the project, Associate Principal Guillermo Murcia of the firm called its realization a “milestone,” adding that he hoped its design would enable a spatially pleasing and enriching “personal journey of discovery” for them.

The partner in charge of the design of the Sorol Art Museum, Dukho Yeon, stated, “The design vision was to create a modest but lyrical composition incised into this spectacular landscape that would become the perfect backdrop for art and remain forever memorable to all who visit.”

Yeon’s colleague, Sharon Oh, added: “We envisioned the museum to beautifully exemplify the continuous dialogue between interior and exterior elements, creating tranquil exhibition spaces that serve as a neutral backdrop for the art.” Architects Hyunggyu Choi, Yuhwa Jeong, Tetsuhito Abe, and Jun Kawai were also included on the project team in Gangneung.

The newly constructed Children’s Dream Center and Children’s Eco Museum in Seoul are presently being completed by Meier Partners. Its inception will be followed by another residential building and the upcoming Kiwoom Finance Square tower, both in Seoul. The firm has completed the Stuttgart Residences in Germany and opened parallel projects in Italy, Dubai, Spain, and Hawaii.