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Navigating Historicism and Modernism in the Design of Korea's National Assembly Building

국회의사당 설계과정에서 나타나는 역사주의와 모더니즘

  • 김지홍 (문화재청 국립고궁박물관)
  • Received : 2023.07.26
  • Accepted : 2023.09.23
  • Published : 2023.10.30

Abstract

The paper examines how the identities of a democratic nation, a decolonized entity, and national culture intersected in the discussions surrounding the construction of the National Assembly Building in Korea from the 1950s to the 1970s. These values influenced decisions ranging from site selection to building design and the overall narrative associated with the completed structure. Multiple architects were involved in this process, and various design proposals underwent changes due to political intervention. This paper analyzed the rationale behind the site selection of the National Assembly Building's location and emphasized the architectural elements and design decisions made throughout the design process. This modernist building incorporates traditional Western legislative architectural features, including the dome, while integrating facades with columns inspired by traditional Korean architecture. The structure itself reflects the conflicts surrounding the representation of a modern nation and Korean traditional culture. The struggle between modernism and historical perspectives has profoundly influenced the regional expression of Korean Modernist architects and their interpretation of tradition in Korean architecture.

Keywords

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