All winners

The Sorol Art Museum

Honorable Mention in Architectural design

Offering an iconic destination in Gangneung, Korea, the Sorol Art Museum sits inside Gyo-Dong 7 Public Park. Located on a natural hilltop plateau, the building blends into the environment with a the park landscape preserving local vegetation and offering panoramic sea and mountain views. Opened in February'24, its inaugural year featured works by Lucio Fontana, Quac Insik, Agnes Martin, and Chung Sang-Hwa. These exhibitions mirror the museum's design vision, inspired by Korean Confucian heritage and a philosophy of artistic simplicity and harmony with nature. The architecture balances introverted galleries with extroverted circulation areas. Organized around a central courtyard inspired by traditional Korean design, the museum comprises three main volumes: a large cantilevered north wing pavilion, a pristine "cube" for galleries, and a transparent entry pavilion housing the lobby and café. A T-shaped circulation path and signature sculptural ramp link the spaces, using large windows and expansive vistas to maximize natural light and connect visitors to the surrounding park, gardens, and reflecting pool. In contrast, the three distinct gallery spaces feature controlled natural light modulated by shading devices, creating a serene, adaptable backdrop for art. The exterior facade reflects these narratives; transparent glass curtain walls wrap the circulation zones, while white concrete and aluminum panels enclose the galleries, beautifully bridging interior and exterior worlds.

Participant category: Company 11 - 100 employees

Company name: Meier Architects

Country: USA

Location: Gangneung-si, Republic of Korea

Client: Gyo-Dong Park Holdings (GDPH)

Team: The Meier Architects team is a diverse group of talented architects with a wide range of experience, positioned to offer comprehensive design services around the world-from urban planning and architecture to interior and product design.

Edition: 2026

Project status: Realised

Website: www.meierarchitects.us

Photo credits: Roland Halbe
Photo credits: Roland Halbe
Photo credits: Roland Halbe
Photo credits: Roland Halbe
Photo credits: Roland Halbe