Incheon Public Library & Museum emerges as a landmark of knowledge, culture, and sustainability, commemorating a century of public learning in Incheon. This architectural intervention integrates a library and museum into a cohesive cultural hub, establishing a dynamic connection between the city’s urban fabric and its natural surroundings.

Situated along a central lake in Geomdan, the design responds to three critical relationships:

1. Natural Integration – The building harmonizes with its environment, extending the adjacent park onto its roof and framing serene views of the landscape.

2. Community Engagement – Designed as a vibrant public space, it fosters interaction, education, and cultural exchange.

3. Green Connectivity – Acting as an ecological corridor, it reinforces sustainable urbanism through water management, passive cooling, and biophilic design.

The architectural form, defined by a hyperbolic paraboloid geometry, creates a fluid spatial experience that seamlessly merges library and museum functions. Its stepped roofscape provides accessible green space, mitigating heat gain while offering panoramic city views. Integrated skylights strategically illuminate the interior, minimizing artificial lighting demands and enhancing spatial depth.

Internally, an open cascading plan interweaves reading areas, exhibition halls, and gathering spaces, creating a continuous circulation of movement and discovery. Ramps, staircases, and seating dissolve boundaries between learning and leisure, fostering inclusivity and accessibility. The flexible gallery and archival spaces encourage adaptability, accommodating evolving cultural programming.

As a gateway to Incheon’s future, the project embodies resilience and innovation, celebrating a century of knowledge while redefining the role of architecture in shaping sustainable, community-driven cultural landscapes.