The National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a project aimed at preserving the country’s national heritage and enhancing its value. In a nation severely lacking historical and cultural content, the project sought to create a symbolic building with cultural and educational purposes to serve as an integrated space connecting the past, present, and future.

The design reflects a modern interpretation of Congolese traditional identity and actively incorporates daylighting and ventilation, considering the local climate and unstable national power supply. Many constraints from the design guidelines were adapted to local conditions. To overcome limitations such as a large pilotis area and a small 200-300 pyeong (around 660-990 sq. m.) exhibition space, the concept of an outdoor exhibition space was introduced by creating a symbolic cloister around the museum. Despite structural limitations of the cloister roof, a 30-meter-long skylight was installed to convey a message of unity for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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