Cut from a massive decaying sea vessel, this hollowed-out section of hull has been transformed into a seating and performance space outside of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea.
Located in Seoul, the Temp’L features an original corroding exterior that contrasts with its freshly-painted white interior and an array of greenery adorning it inside and out.
A balcony and spiral staircase let visitors wind their way up inside this partial shell of the old ship, making their way to a semi-enclosed alcove shrouded by trees.
The red-and-white theme plays off of concrete and brick on the adjacent museum building while the shape and texture set it starkly apart.
“Any great cultural vestiges can lose their function,” says Shinslab Architecture. “In the same way, a material can also lose its original value over time.”
“The fact that the destiny of cultural relics is to be dismantled, should make us reflect upon what we need to consider for future generations.”
“Temp’L is designed from recycled steel parts from an old ship. It shows not only a beauty of structure, but it has also a recycling purpose…It provokes thought about beauty in our time, coming from a recent past.”
