The beginning of the Museum SAN goes back to 2005. The Hansol Cultural Foundation set up a plan to build a museum complex to merge with the Paper Museum which had opened in 1997, and contracted Tadao Ando for its design. “When I first saw the site, a long piece of land stretched toward the mountaintop. I imagined I could create a different world removed from its surroundings on this unusual ground.” What Ando had said became true eight years later in 2013. On a plot of land stretching a little over 20,000 pyeong, minimalistic gardens by the Japanese architect known for his works embracing natural light and nature were established, along with galleries. Dispelling Ando’s concerns over the distant location of the museum and a potential loss of visitors, the Museum SAN was anticipated, even before the big opening, by many people who had heard that the architect was Tadao Ando and that works by James Turrell would be displayed. When the museum officially began operation in 2013, it immediately became a major attraction of Wonju.

The Museum SAN greets you at the Welcome Center, a starting point of a long stretch of path occupied by the Flower Garden, Water Garden, Museum, Meditation Hall, Stone Garden, and Jame Turrell Exhibition. The positioning of the gardens and buildings took into consideration the site’s topographical features. After passing the Welcome Center with the ticket counter and information desk, you encounter the Flower Garden first where 800,000 China pinks bloom every May and 180 birch trees form a forest. In winter, instead of flowers. a red sculpture entitled “For Gerard Manley Hopkins” created by Mark di Suvero to honor a Victorian poet captivates visitors.

Walking into the museum with the grayish façade using Paju stone, it becomes clear that Ando intended to incorporate nature in the building design. The interior of the museum adopted the “box in box” concept which means an exposed concrete box structure is contained within a stone structure forming the outer walls. A set of small windows between the stone wall and the eaves let in natural light enough to illuminate the gray hallways inside, while allowing those in the building to get a glimpse of the beautiful landscape outside through them. The simplistic structure made of Paju stone and exposed concrete walls is in such a fine tune with nature that each season experienced from within the museum is visually pleasing in a unique way. The museum offers bench seats in front of its larger windows for visitors to take a break. It’s another type of relaxation to admire the surroundings while sitting there, and one of many methods to fully appreciate the work of Ando.

Past the Stone Garden is a space dedicated to James Turrell, the last one on the site of the Museum SAN. James Turrell is a world-renowned installation artist, famous for his light and space art. The exhibition space presents five of his works and limits the admission hours and number of spectators to help them become fully immersed in the art.
“Skyspace,” the first one of Turrell’s works, is an oval-shaped opening on the ceiling of a dome. As the sky viewed through the opening transforms depending on the time and weather, it naturally is perceived as a work of art. His other works include “Horizon Room,” “Ganzfeld,” and “Wedgework.” Experiencing light in a controlled space created by Turrell makes you rethink about the act of seeing. Exiting the James Turrell exhibition, you will likely feel you are waking up from a dream.

After finishing the viewing of James Turrell exhibition, you take the same route back to the Welcome Center via the Stone Garden, Museum, Water Garden, and lastly the Flower Garden. The return route will allow you to have a more relaxed attitude to look around the museum site. You can enjoy a conversation with your company over a cup of coffee at a scenic café. If you are alone, it will be a great opportunity for you to have a little “me time” away from ordinary life. Through the experience, you can rediscover your creative side and recharge yourself. Tadao Ando said about the Museum SAN, “I wanted to turn the entire site into the Museum not just the buildings — a place where both adults and children can spend a special day to enrich their sensibility for art and nature, newly discover themselves and regain the energy for life. Has this dream of mine come true?” To answer his question, visiting the Museum SAN is like choosing to be isolated or walking into the mountain. In other words, it is the best way to recharge yourself without doubt.

Address 260 Oakvalley 2-gil, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do
Phone +82-33-730-9000
Homepage www.museumsan.org