National Museum of World Writing

The National Museum of World Writing is a competition proposal for Incheon, South Korea. The design treats the relationship between the museum and the ground as part of the visitor experience. The exterior renderings show long building edges defining spaces for approach and circulation. A low, horizontal reading of the museum from outside gives way to taller and more sheltered spaces near its entrances. In the principal arrival view, a narrow water channel emphasizes the line of movement between the two sides of the approach. The channel leads the eye forward and marks the scale of the space without dividing it into separate rooms.

A second view shows an overhanging volume that shelters part of the arrival route. The underside forms a continuous plane above the open space, while the wall beside it defines the edge of the path. At this point the building is experienced from close range, where the relation between the soffit, the wall and the walking surface becomes more apparent than the overall outline. A third view shows the museum as an extended horizontal volume and makes the change in scale between its outer edge and its sheltered entrances legible.

The proposal pairs these exterior spaces with a museum program intended to accommodate flexible exhibitions. The images document three points on the approach: the open route along the water, the covered space beneath the building, and the view of the outer facade. They are architectural renderings of the competition proposal. The design, drawings, modeling and rendering were developed by a collaborative team whose roles are listed in the project credits.

Limited design competition. Incheon, South Korea. Design year: 1395 Solar Hijri (2016–2017). Program: museum and exhibition spaces. Images: competition renderings.

Principal architects: Alireza Karimi Kolor and Mostafa Shadkam. Design drawings: Ehda Banihashemi, Maryam Miri and Kimia Mazidi. Modeling: Shahin Shokri, Jafar Shadkam, Ali Marzban and Parham Adibpour. Rendering: Shahin Shokri, Jafar Shadkam and Arian Lotfi. Presentation: Atieh Shiri.