MOCABU - Mountain of Contemporary Art Busan
As part of the urban regeneration project, Busan Metropolitan City supports and administrates the revitalization project of the underground bunker system in Mulmangol in Hwangnyoengsan Mountain, Busan. Kyungdong Construction Co. Ltd. owns 13 million square meters of land in the area, which include the 4,000 square meter bunker system partially existed as a cave since the Japanese colonial era, has decided to develop the facility in conjunction with the surrounding landscape.
Busan Mulmangol Bunker Regeneration International Competition, 2nd Prize
As part of the urban regeneration project, Busan Metropolitan City supports and administrates the revitalization project of the underground bunker system in Mulmangol in Hwangnyoengsan Mountain, Busan. Kyungdong Construction Co. Ltd. owns 13 million square meters of land in the area, which include the 4,000 square meter bunker system partially existed as a cave since the Japanese colonial era, has decided to develop the facility in conjunction with the surrounding landscape.
The bunker, constructed as military operation facility in 1968 had been left unused and was registered as a structure for storage purposes in March 2016. An international competition, hosted by the Busan International Architectural Culture Festival and promoted by Kyungdong, Construction Co. Ltd., was held to seek an innovative architectural idea and strategic concept to regenerate the existing bunker facility and to create a new addition, which will activate regional social and economic development in Busan.
Cheungvogl’s proposal MOCABU - Mountain of Contemporary Art Busan, awarded second prize in the competition, emphasis a large-scale art installation space, penetrating the mountain and making the former hidden bunker system visible to the city. An additional 250 meter high, needle thin tower, housing an automated parking system and an observation deck creates a symbolic landmark in the mountain above Busan.
MOCABU invites visitors from all over the world to experience a large scale one-of-a-kind annual art installation conceived by an internationally renowned artist within the installation space in Hwangnyeongsan Mountain. Each year an acclaimed artist or group of artists will be invited to transform the installation space and reinterpret the perception of the space and the city, creating a world class destination and major international tourist attraction.
The 3,500 square metres clear span installation space is a volume of 170 m length x 20 m width x 20 m height, created to form an extension to the existing bunker system. The space penetrates the mountain from east to west and opens up to views above the city and the neighbouring mountains. Visitors can engage and immerse in the arts and culture inside and through the mountain; offering art lovers and also those who do not usually visit museums a visual connection to the arts and culture from the city.
Adjacent to the installation space, an 800 square metres artist residence and studio workshop enables artists to work and live on site during the production period of the art piece.
The existing bunker system connecting the new additions is largely maintained in its original layout for visitors to experience the former bunker atmosphere. The narrow gridded tunnel system will be restored and transformed into additional exhibition spaces for contemporary visual arts.
The new addition above the existing bunker system to the west houses a cafe and restaurant, bookstore and workshops. The building anchors onto the Hwangnyeongsan Mountain while partially cantilevering towards the city and sea view beyond.
The unassuming presence of MOCABU / Mountain of Contemporary Art Busan is recognized as a destination for its arts and culture. To express the landmark character of this unique museum space, the car park structure incorporates an automated parking system in a 144 square metres footprint that also serves as an observation deck. At the height of 250 metres, the structure offers a viewing platform with a 360 degree view onto the cityscape, mountains and harbours of Busan. The landmark sets within the Hwangnyeongsan Mountain leading to the installation space, marking the presence of MOCABU rising needle-thin into the sky above Busan.
