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When the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided that they were going to build a robot science museum in the city, they opened up a competition for the masses to submit their best design for such a building. The intent for this museum is simple: “support public education in robotics and increase public knowledge and interest in robots,” according to Designboom. But the winning proposal is far from simple.
The bid that came out on top was from Melike Altınışık Architects (MAA), a firm based in Turkey. The idea, put plainly, is that the actual museum exhibits will start the moment the ground is broken, to better give the public a look into the building process. The twist: Robots will be building the entire museum from the ground up.
The museum design proposal showcases the building as a fluid sphere, an ecosystem of sorts, that contains a robotic world. Designboom breaks down the science behind this task beautifully, but in short, various teams of robots will have different tasks that marry traditional construction methods and robotic-first methods, from molding and welding the outer metal plates to 3D printing concrete to be placed in the landscaping around the museum. Of course, the entire endeavor will be treated as a learning moment for visitors, in exhibit form.
The building is scheduled to begin at the beginning of 2020—and thus the first exhibit will also open—and is planned to be completely finished culminating in an official opening late in 2022. If this comes together as MAA anticipates, it will truly mark a momentous moment in the history of museum architecture.
