Park1538 by UnSangDong Architects: Layered Steel Ribs and Reflective Cladding in Gwangyang

Project Info

Project Name: Park1538

Location: Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do, South Korea

Architects: UnSangDong Architects in collaboration with POSCO A&C

Client/Owner: POSCO

In Gwangyang - a city shaped by its steelmaking legacy - Park1538 emerges as an architectural symphony: its rippling steel ribs and shimmering metallic shell serve as both structure and story, blurring the lines between industrial past and cultural present.

A Fluid Facade Sculpted from Steel

UnSangDong Architects, in collaboration with POSCO A&C, crafted the building’s signature form: a sinuous, shell-like envelope composed of sweeping steel ribs that undulate rhythmically to create an illusion of movement. These layered ribs are precisely curved and tapered, appearing to float and ripple as light dances across their surfaces

The building's dynamic façade, with its rippling steel ribs and reflective PosMAC cladding, captures the daylight, showcasing its sculptural form against the clear sky and spacious plaza

Material Innovation: PosMAC

At the heart of the design is PosMAC, POSCO’s proprietary magnesium-aluminum alloy coating product. This material, used for both structure and cladding, offers remarkable flexibility, durability, and a reflective, corrosion-resistant finish - perfect for realizing the complex geometries of the façade

The building’s tactile skin is more than visual spectacle - it reflects daylight in dynamic patterns over time, transforming the museum into a living canvas that echoes the name "Gwangyang" (meaning “light” and “sunlight”)

The soaring lobby features a striking spherical chandelier and an escalator, with tall, angled windows flooding the space with light and mirroring the building's sculptural exterior within

Form, Function & Structural Precision

Park1538 isn’t just visually dramatic—it's underpinned by highly engineered precision. Each steel rib is individually calibrated to meet distinct structural, spatial, and programmatic needs, resulting in a completely non-standard construction process. Early-stage 3D simulations and seamless collaboration between design, engineering, and fabrication were essential to ensuring structural integrity without compromising sculptural form.

Steel as Monument and Medium

The building itself becomes a monument to steel. A staggering 4,400 tons of steel were employed in construction, reinforcing the complex’s role as both exhibition space and industrial artifact.

Strategically lit at dusk, the curved steel ribs glow, transforming the building into an organic form

Vertical Layers of Purpose

The internal layout reflects a thoughtful stratification of public, cultural, and educational functions:

+ Ground level: A welcoming public plaza that encourages community gathering and connects the building to the streetscape.

+ Third floor: A “floating” gallery space offering panoramic views and immersive exhibition environments.

+ Educational center: Organized around a central atrium with shared staircases to promote movement, interaction, and communal learning.

Landscaping with Memory

Park1538’s landscape design weaves together new life and residual memory. Recycled remnants from steelmaking are integrated into plazas and planting beds, symbolically anchoring the complex in its steelmaking heritage. Soft greenery and reclaimed materials together fuse industrial memory with ecological renewal.