MOCABU, Busan, South Korea

Cheungvogl wins 2nd Prize in Busan Mulmangol Bunker Regeneration International Competition.

The bunker, constructed as military operation facility in 1968 had been left unused and was registered as a structure for storage purposes in March 2016. An international competition, hosted by the Busan International Architectural Culture Festival and promoted by Kyungdong, Construction Co. Ltd., was held to seek an innovative architectural idea and strategic concept to regenerate the existing bunker facility and to create a new addition, which will activate regional social and economic development in Busan.

MOCABU - Mountain of Contemporary Art Busan emphasis an art installation space, inviting visitors to experience a large scale one-of-a-kind annual art installation. Each year an acclaimed artist or group of artists will be invited to transform the installation space and reinterpret the perception of the space and the city, creating a world class destination and major international tourist attraction. The 3,500 square metres clear span installation space is a volume of 170 m length x 20 m width x 20 m height, created to form an extension to the existing bunker system. Adjacent to the installation space, a 800 square metres artist residence and studio workshop enables artists to work and live on site during the production period of the installation.

A 250 meter high, needle thin structure, housing an automated parking system and an observation deck creates a symbolic landmark in the mountain above Busan.

The history of the bunker and the recent and current process of the project is documented in the book The Bunker, Busan Mulmangol Bunker Regeneration, published by BICF/Kyungdong, Busan, South Korea, 2016.