Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art is a architectural compilation of three architects’ works, OMA ( http://www.oma.eu/ ), Jean Nouvel ( http://www.jeannouvel.com/ ), and Mario Botta ( http://www.botta.ch/ ).  Samoo ( http://www.samoo.co.kr/ ) was their local architect. Each architect is very different from each other in style, and in Leeum, they differentiate from each other by using different materials/color to accentuate themselves. Museum 1 and 2 show permanent collections : Museum 1 was designed by Mario Botta, and it shows traditional Korean paintings, calligraphy, and pottery. He used his signature terra cotta tiles. Museum 2, designed by Jean Nouvel, shows contemporary art. The contrast between the stark black steel and clear glass against gabions… they sound very contradicting, but when you are there, it looks natural in a way. Samsung Child Education & Culture Center, which OMA designed, shows contemporary/experimental art exhibitions. They created black concrete box like a floating space ship, similar to how they designed Casa da Musica in Porto.

 

Museum 1 : 2,310sqm site area, 9,900sqm total floor area

Museum 2 : 1,650sqm site area,  4,950sqm total floor area

Samsung Child Education & Culture Center : 3960sqm site area, 12870sqm total floor area

 

Address : 60-16, Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울 용산구 이태원로 55길 60-16)

Hours : 10:30AM-6PM, closed on Mondays, January 1st, Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays

Tickets : 10,000KRW for permanent exhibitions, 7,000KRW for special exhibitions

http://leeum.samsungfoundation.org