ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE EXPERIENCE DURING ART4D PINNED PLACE: KOREA, AUDEUM, A NEW AUDIO MUSEUM DESIGNED BY KENGO KUMA, WHICH IS A PERFECT BLEND OF ARCHITECTURE AND SOUND
TEXT & PHOTO: WEERAPON SINGNOI
(For Thai, press here)
After our Design Tour in Songdo, hailed as one of the early prototypes of a Smart City, the next destination we had the opportunity to visit was the newly completed and recently launched Audeum: Audio Museum.
Audeum, 2024, Kengo Kuma & Associates
Audeum, established in 2024 by Michael Chung, founder of Silbatone Acoustics and an audio expert from Korea, is a tribute to his late father. After a two-year construction period, this audio museum designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates opened its doors around mid-2024.Known for their commitment to eco-sensitive designs, the architecture firm has sculpted a venue that redefines the museum experience.
Kengo Kuma describes this design piece by stating that it is, “a place where you can not only see but also experience sound firsthand. …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.”
The exterior of Audeum is a striking tableau, with about 20,000 interlaced aluminum tubes arrayed akin to a dense cluster of organ pipes. This dynamic façade captures and reflects light, its appearance ever-evolving with the climatic shifts, thus endowing the structure with a palpable vitality that resonates with the changing seasons.
Access to the museum is a journey in itself: visitors descend stairs leading to a subtly concealed entrance, evoking the sensation of entering a subterranean realm. This passage opens into a lobby where the theme of aluminum continuity extends inward, transitioning into interior spaces where soft wood tones prevail, creating a serene and refined atmosphere.
Admission to Audeum is complimentary, although prior reservation is necessary. Interested parties can schedule a visit through the Audeum’s official website (https://audeum.org) well in advance.
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art4d PINNED PLACE
art4d PINNED PLACE is an initiative intended to take enthusiasts of architecture, design, and art on explorations of hidden creative enclaves, both within Thailand and overseas, through locales and happenings, thoughtfully chosen and arranged by art4d.