National Museum of World Writing

New York-based H Architecture presents a competition runner-up proposal for the National Museum of World Writing, located in Songdo International Business District. Designed in collaboration with Haeahn Architecture in Seoul, the project is situated within Songdo Central Park and was commissioned by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports& Tourism. As a major cultural initiative, the 16,094m²building is intended to house a wide range of programs, including exhibition galleries, a theater, research and office facilities, and educational spaces.

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The architectural concept draws inspiration from “spacing”—a fundamental element inwriting systems and a quality found in natural park landscapes. A lifted landform extends the park’s terrain into the second level of the building, offering open public access, multiple entry points, and a fluid connection between museum and nature.

The design interprets “spacing” as both a visual and spatial principle, applied across the building’s plan, section, envelope, and structure. The ground level remains fully open and accessible, promoting integration with the park and enabling shared public use. Exhibition spaces are placed below this level for controlled light and immersive digital display, while institutional functions are suspended above to preserve openness. At the center, a vertical memorial hall—formed by an elliptic hyperboloid of steps—links all public zones and acts as a gathering, reading, and performance space. A structural lattice system merges architecture and environment, allowing light, shadow, and views to weave throughout the building. Through this layered strategy, the museum becomes both a civic landmark and a cultural field—an accessible and expressive setting for visitors, while offering a distinct institutional identity rooted in the universal language of writing.