National Archives Museum of Korea
Cultural · Sejong, KR

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION
The National Archives Museum is conceived as a dynamic space where cultural memory and architectural expression merge. More than
a repository of records, the museum shapes an evolving experience that fosters discovery and engagement. Its design embraces modularity
and flexibility, allowing exhibitions to adapt and unfold in new ways. Positioned within the National Museum Complex, the building establishes
a dialogue with its surroundings while maintaining a distinct presence. Through a balance of sustainability, materiality, and spatial clarity, the
National Archives Museum redefines the role of archival institutions, transforming the act of preservation into an immersive and ever-evolving journey.

The museum’s spatial logic is harmonized with the larger campus through an 8.1-meter modular grid that informs both plan and elevation. This system orchestrates a rhythm that binds the museum to its context while maintaining architectural autonomy.
The design ensures a dialog between the new intervention and the existing structures, creating a coherent yet distinct presence within the campus.
In addition, the spatial relationship between the museum and the master plan’s canopy was carefully orchestrated. The canopy remains an independent architectural element, 8.1 meters away from the museum façade, and this intentional separation ensures that both elements retain their architectural uniqueness. This makes the overall spatial composition more harmonious and clear.


At the core of museum design is the idea of the building as both a guardian of the record and a dynamic, evolving experience. Inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s ‘Box in a Suitcase’, the building departs from his concept of compact art by embodying Duchamp’s notion of a ‘mobile museum’, where the ‘container’ functions as both a vessel and a work of art in itself. Within this framework, content is respected not only for its inherent value, but also for the important role it plays in preserving the collective memory of an entire culture.
The museum prioritizes flexibility, allowing the collection to be rearranged and experienced in new ways. It features modular, adaptable spaces that allow the collection to evolve, emphasizing interaction between exhibits, context, and visitors, while also serving to protect valuable records, documents, and archives.
Beyond its archival role, the museum actively directs visitor movement, creating architectural journeys through intentional spatial sequences. The movement patterns present an experience of discovery where architecture and exhibition design combine to tell a cohesive story.
This spatial arrangement ensures that the visitor’s engagement is as much shaped by the architectural language as by the artifacts themselves.
Sustainability is at the core of the design ethos, and the museum is positioned as an ecologically responsible structure. The building’s form factor, passive environmental strategies, material choices, and energy-efficient technologies combine to reduce the building’s carbon footprint.



The museum’s entrance is defined by a multi-level atrium designed as both an architectural boundary and experiential focal
point. The vertical circulation is organized by a sculpturally interwoven escalator, which not only facilitates movement between
floors, but also creates a visually compelling spatial composition. This dynamic arrangement minimizes the footprint while
maximizing the exhibition space and contributing to the immersion of visitors.



At the center of the atrium, a magnificent multi-level exhibition case is placed as a key element that provides a direct
experience of the museum’s curatorial philosophy. This spatial gesture forms a strong visual and conceptual axis, clearly
setting the impression of the visitor’s journey. In addition, the voluminous composition of the atrium maximizes the
spatial drama, evoking a sense of wonder and anticipation upon entry.

Main Atrium Collection Wall
View from inside. Collection wall is accessible for Museum
employees from storage and restoration area.
View of the main atrium collection wall
View from outside. Collection wall displays numerous artifacts
to the public that enters the Museum Lobby.




The basement level of the National Archives Museum combines essential infrastructure with inviting public spaces. It includes the parking area and mechanical rooms, ensuring the building’s functionality, while also featuring key visitor spaces such as the Sunken Patio and cafeteria. The Sunken Patio, an open-air courtyard, brings natural light into the lower level and creates a fluid connection between
the museum and its surroundings. From here, visitors can access Museum Street, an underground passage linking the Archives with the broader Museum Complex. The cafeteria, positioned as a social gathering space, is directly connected to the main atrium by the sculptural escalators, seamlessly integrating this level into the museum’s spatial journey.

Introduction Exhibit
“The Vault of Memory: An Open Library”
The Repository of Memory is an open library of some of Urania’s most important records. Visitors can
explore the well-organized archives and learn how records shape our national identity. The space emphasizes
transparency and accessibility, demonstrating that the preservation and management of historical documents
serves to connect our country’s past, present, and future.

Exhibition Hall 1
“Chronicles of a Nation: Korean History Through the Archives”
This exhibit illuminates modern and contemporary Korean history through archives, covering the
journey from liberation to the present. Visitors can explore key events, policies, and people, and
understand Korea’s transformation through a chronological structure. The exhibition demonstrates
how records connect the past and present as historical evidence and collective memory.



Exhibition Hall 2
“Timeless Records: Multimedia Archives”
This multimedia exhibition embodies Korea’s archival culture through interactive media walls, storytelling,
and large-scale projections. Visitors can experience records through light, sound, and movement, and see historical
archives and digital innovation combined. The artistic execution emphasizes the importance of records in shaping
national identity and connecting history with technological development.

Experiential Learning Center
“Inside the Archive: The Journey of Records”
This interactive space explores the entire life cycle of an archive, from preservation to digitization. Visitors engage
with preservation labs and hands-on technology to learn how records are protected and restored. The exhibit emphasizes
the importance of archival science and provides a glimpse into the detailed work that goes into preserving history.

The architectural expression of the museum is defined by formal restraint, yet reveals a rich materiality. Wood was chosen as the primary exterior material, which not only provides tactile and visual warmth but also creates a symbolic link to cultural preservation.
The use of this material emphasizes the museum’s role as a preserver of heritage, while giving the building itself a strong and original presence. In addition, the façade system
was designed for optimal environmental performance. Wooden screens in the form of vertical louvers regulate the inflow of natural light to provide adequate illumination of the exhibition spaces, while preventing damage to sensitive artifacts. This integrated approach to light control reflects the museum’s philosophy of sustainability and strikes a balance between energy efficiency and a pleasant spatial atmosphere.

Project Team
- Luis Collado
- Jose Luis de la Fuente
- Ignacio Espigares
- Inés Fernández
- Álvaro Mesquida
- Zach Michaliska
- Gonzalo Rojas
- Miguel Ruiz-Rivas
- Yinghao Zhang