Nestled in the hillside of Bukhan mountain, the National Museum of Korean Literature (NMKL) overlooks the Eunpeyong New Town, an emerging cultural sector in the northwest of Seoul.

The NMKL is envisioned not only as a state-of-the-art institution dedicated to the preservation of literature, but also as a dynamic village for the exchange of culture and knowledge. Inspired by the cultural heritage of Korean literature, its design is open and democratic with collections and various programming easily accessible in two cultural store house towers. Clad in paper-like, ceramically fritted-glass sails, the arrangement evokes the soft curvature of a traditional Korean village.

Taking advantage of the sloping site, multiple public entrances and circulation points around the entire complex facilitate cultural programming throughout the day and into the evening. The larger tower with the museum gallery and specialized library consists of a series of tiered platforms and trays overlooking an expansive public atrium.