Kengo Kuma shrouds Seoul museum in cascading aluminium pipes

Japanese architecture studio Kengo Kuma and Associates has unveiled the Audeum audio museum in Seoul, which is wrapped by layers of suspended aluminium pipes.

Located in the Gangnam district of the South Korean capital, Audeum is designed to stimulate the five senses as visitors explore its collection of sound reproduction equipment.

"It is a place where you can not only see but also experience sound firsthand," said Kengo Kuma and Associates.

"Moreover, it is not just a place to listen to sound, it is an architectural instrument that returns humans to a natural state, allowing them to experience the five senses of the body."

Kengo Kuma and Associates wrapped the museum's exterior in layers of overlapping aluminium pipes, which are elevated above ground by the entrance to reveal a glass facade.

The cascading pipes were added to the facade to create a pattern of light and shade, intended to mimic how sunlight filters through trees in a forest.

"The use of aluminium pipes mimics the changes in natural light, randomly arranging the pipes to harmonise natural disorder and order, emphasising the beauty of light that changes according to weather, time, and season," said Kengo Kuma and Associates.

"Additionally, the bright aluminium pipes envelop the entire building, allowing the exterior to show new expressions according to the seasons, incorporating the random characteristics of the urban environment and nature into the architecture."

An external staircase at the front of the site leads from ground level to the sunken museum entrance.

Inside, Audeum's main entry space features glazed walls and timber panels that conceal a second external staircase running alongside the building.

More aluminium tubes flow downwards from the entrance's high ceiling, roughly following the curve of the external pipes as they rise to expose the entrance.

Wood surfaces throughout the museum interior are designed to contrast the aluminium pipes and recall nature.

"The exterior, with its hard aluminium, transitions to the soft material of the wood inside, creating a gradual shift from the exterior to the interior," said Kengo Kuma and Associates.

"The wood finish is designed with acoustics in mind, creating a space that stimulates human senses and fosters a sense of closeness to nature."

Kengo Kuma and Associates is the eponymous studio of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, which he founded in 1990. Elsewhere, the firm is developing a block of colourful buildings for Miami Design District and recently revealed photos of a museum extension in Lisbon with a swooping roof, which is nearing completion.

The photography is by Namsun Lee unless otherwise stated.

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