National Museum of Korea focuses on the formation of a deep relationship between land and history in accordance with traditional Korean methods. The building spreads out horizontally following the topography of the mountain and provides a chance to escape the overcrowded city of Seoul and encounter nature in the city center. The large pond in front of the building known as the “mirror pond” presents a scenic walking aesthetic; and it is a result of the architect’s intention to encourage the large space to be experienced as a series of smaller units. The low-lying, elongated museum is like a castle that offers a cozy environment in a shallow mountain terrain, which shows a unique way of establishing a building-site relationship.
