STL wins design competition for the new National Museum in Jinju, South Korea

A proposal from Chicago-based STL Architects has been announced as the winner of an international competition to deliver the new National Museum in Jinju, South Korea.

The firm will partner with local architects BAUM for the delivery of the project, which they say pays homage to the building character of the city while harmonizing its users with nature in a progressive and introspective way.

The pair were responding to a brief that called for a “complex cultural space which meets the latest trends in museums” in order to help the existing museum expand out of its confines in the historically-protected Jinjuseong fortress in a delimiting manner. 

The solution proposed, therefore, will provide the institution with much-needed spaces for exhibition, staff, and educational considerations while helping to ensure the ability to maintain its collection and carry out various imperative safety protocols.

Galleries and smaller public areas are placed in wings separated on either side of a central atrium. Natural light fills the expansive linear spaces thanks to a semi-transparent fritted glass facade, with warm-colored wood elements infused in the interior's structural support system and further openings along the ground level to emphasize a seamless transition with the outdoor areas and a further dissolution of conventional museum design strategies. 

The project connects to the larger Jinju Culture Park Master Plan, which includes a restored rail station connected to the new modern Science Museum situated at the northern end of the complex. 

The total site area is 20,000 square meters (or roughly 215, 200 square feet). Construction will be completed at an estimated cost of around $38.4 million USD. No project timelines were made available at press time.