Rusted Hull of Old Ship Is Turned Upside Down and Transformed into an Airy Arts Pavilion

The hull of an old, abandoned ship was recently given new life as a spectacular pavilion for the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. Located in Seoul, the Temp’L features the rusted steel vessel turned upside down and uses its hollowed insides as the setting for vibrant greenery and relaxing seating space.

Shinslab Architecture was the brains behind the converted structure. To transform the hull, they first sawed it from the corroded ship and chose to let its raw, reddish exterior remain. The interior saw the most drastic changes, including a fresh coat of white paint, a balcony, a spiral staircase, and trees tall enough to meet the ceiling.

The results of the rehabilitation are a visually stunning collision of rustic and modern aesthetics. Shinslab hopes that it will encourage visitors to reflect on the act of recycling—specifically, how it can be used in architecture. “Any great cultural vestiges can lose their function,” they said. “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.”

Above photo credit: Sugar Salt Pepper

Photo credit: Sugar Salt Pepper

Photo credit: Sugar Salt Pepper

Shinslab Architecture: Website
via [Inhabitat, Dezeen]

All images via Kim Yong-Gwan unless otherwise stated.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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