Büro Ole Scheeren Designs Suseong Continuum Gallery in South Korea
A winding concrete art gallery designed for digital media without traditional thresholds.
1Architectural Concept and Location
Büro Ole Scheeren has unveiled the Suseong Continuum, a 364-square-metre art gallery located in Daegu, South Korea. Situated within Yeonhwaji park, the structure is designed as a winding, concrete volume. This project was commissioned by the Suseong District Government as a permanent public work for the upcoming 2028 Suseong International Biennale.
2Eliminating Traditional Thresholds
The gallery features a continuous layout that intentionally lacks enclosed rooms or doorways. Founder Ole Scheeren describes the design as a gradient of realities where spaces morph into one another. This approach aims to mirror the fluid nature of digital art, which exists in a world of constant overlaps and connections.
3Integration with Natural Topography
The building is partially embedded into the park’s landscape, appearing as an extrusion from a winding path. Its orientation faces a nearby lotus pond to enhance the connection between the structure and its surroundings. The exterior utilizes board-marked concrete to provide a rough, tactile texture that contrasts with the interior environment.
4Materiality and Digital Transition
Inside, the rough board-marked concrete transitions into smooth walls specifically designed for projecting media. The studio intends for this shift to represent the transformation from the natural park landscape into the digital realm. By removing distinct boundaries, the architecture creates a seamless journey that merges the physical and digital domains.
5Technical Infrastructure Integration
A layered ceiling runs the entire length of the gallery to conceal all necessary lighting and technical infrastructure. This complex system was developed in collaboration with the Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe. The design ensures that technology remains hidden, allowing the focus to remain entirely on the immersive digital art experience.
6Spatial Experience and Circulation
The interior unfolds as a spatial gradient where light, sound, and enclosure shift gradually along the visitor’s route. Curving walls widen into expansive open spaces and tighten into narrow passages to manipulate the atmosphere. Rather than switching between distinct zones, the visitor experiences a continuous transformation of the environment throughout the gallery.
7Broader Studio Context
This project aligns with Büro Ole Scheeren’s ongoing international portfolio, which includes skyscrapers featuring waterfall facades in Shenzhen. The studio is also currently working on the Róng Museum of Arts. These projects demonstrate a consistent interest in complex geometries and the integration of large-scale structures within diverse urban and natural landscapes.
8Project Timeline and Significance
The Suseong Continuum design is currently on display at the Suseong International Biennale until 22 November. As a permanent addition to Daegu, the gallery is scheduled to open for the 2028 edition of the event. It represents a significant effort to redefine how public architecture facilitates the viewing of digital media.