Art Larchive (library + archive) Expansion to Macroscale Larchiveum

• Morphology

• Concept

- The Fragmentation of Contemporary Art In the past, the practice of 'art' centered around expression and reproduction has transformed into the fragmented art of today, based on individualism and respect for diversity. An era where making a chair was considered art has evolved into an era where submitting a mass-produced chair is recognized as art. As such, art sometimes shows us a complex and difficult-to-understand world, making it increasingly challenging for us to keep up with our understanding. The completion year of the publishing cultural center, the site of this project, is 1975. As of the current year 2024, we can consider ourselves to be in the midst of the transitional period of contemporary art, characterized by excessive fragmentation. The question remains as to how long this transitional period will last. It's uncertain whether we will continue to confront further fragmentation and complexity in art, or if new conceptual forms of art will emerge. Considering that this project involves renovation, we should reap the expected benefits from the time elapsed thus far and be prepared to anticipate the forms of art that may emerge in the future, especially in relation to contemporary art.

- Site Located at the Entrance of Samcheong-dong The site is situated in Sagan-dong, commonly referred to as Bukchon, located on the outskirts between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace. While not in the heart of Bukchon, it faces Sejong-ro, the road stretching from Gwanghwamun Square to Changdeokgung Palace. Positioned between the commercial district of Gwanghwamun and residential areas, it serves as the first impression for tourists heading towards Bukchon. In reality, to reach Bukchon, visitors typically pass through the site, as they need to access Gyeongbokgung Station, Anguk Station, or Gwanghwamun Station, aside from bus stops. Therefore, there is a high volume of pedestrian traffic, particularly from tourists heading towards Gyeongbokgung Palace. Furthermore, Samcheong-dong in Bukchon holds significant historical value for galleries. Prior to the IMF era, the main galleries in Seoul, primarily located in Cheongdam-dong and Insa-dong, were unable to withstand high rents. Consequently, many galleries relocated to Samcheong-dong, known for its preservation of traditional culture within the city center, marking the beginning of the gallery history in Bukchon. According to my research, there are nearly 100 galleries of various sizes currently situated between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace. Therefore, could the site at the entrance of Bukchon, where numerous small and large galleries and art museums are located, fill the void of knowledge caused by the fragmentation of contemporary art?

- Art Library + Digital Archive = Macroscale Larchiveum This project propose Art Library and Digital Archive as programs for the site. In the Samcheong-dong area, where numerous galleries are scattered, a Digital Archive will accumulate various forms of artwork produced there, aiding in the understanding of the complexity of contemporary art. The Art Library will serve as a resource to facilitate comprehension of contemporary art, acting as a platform for diverse artistic expressions. Respecting the diversity of galleries in the area and the gallery context that has evolved since the IMF era, we aim to overcome the limitations of the existing Larchiveum, where access to content was confined within given spaces. If you look at the Larchiveum system diagram, you can see how Larchiveum can function by proposing only an art library and digital archive on the limited site. First, the library provides knowledge to users to complement the fragmentation and complexity of contemporary art. Galleries, on the other hand, serve commercial purposes, where artworks are either sold or replaced for the next exhibition. The goal is to accumulate artworks that are consumed in such a manner. The digital archive, on the other hand, allows these artworks to be accumulated in various forms such as 3D scans, recordings, and images, regardless of spatial constraints, enabling unlimited access to artworks within the limited space. Meanwhile, despite the relatively low degree of physical constraints, I believe that setting boundaries is essential to experiencing knowledge production activities surrounded by the unconscious boundaries of "Larchiveum." Considering the historical significance of both large and small galleries in the Samcheong-dong area and the unconscious comfort felt from strict regulations, as well as the organic connections between alleyways, I designated galleries and art museums located in the administrative area north of Sejong-ro, between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace, as "target galleries for collection." This includes a total of 11 administrative districts: Gyedong, Sagan-dong, Wonseo-dong, Songhyeon-dong, Anguk-dong, Hwa-dong, Samcheong-dong, Gahoe-dong, Jae-dong, Palpan-dong, and Sogyeok-dong. The diagram on the right emphasizes the flow of knowledge towards various galleries and networking through digital archives to experience the entire area as Larchiveum.

- Integrated Features of Library, Archive, and Museum Efforts to establish Lacivertium have been ongoing, but its persistent issue lies in the independent existence of each of the three programs within the site. With an area of approximately 3000 square meters, the functions of these individual programs may not fully realize their potential. Therefore, as mentioned earlier, the conclusion was to utilize galleries and museums in the surrounding area as elements of Lacivertium and focus on library and archive programs on the site. Additionally, it is imperative to blur the boundaries between these programs, as they should not exist independently. Being an abstract entity without physical connections to nearby galleries, Lacivertium cannot afford further fragmentation. Therefore, it is proposed to allocate the digital archive in the existing building, while configuring the sloped mass in a part of the site, including Songhyeon Square, as the library. This creates a horizontal opening for the library, fostering not just a static reading space but also the potential for artistic discourse and dialogue. Moreover, it opens up the possibility of community activities integrated with the existing green square.

- Mass Process: Adaptive Reuse Strategy Please refer to attached image.

• Plan

• Midterm Panel