The 42-year-old Space Group headquarters building in central Seoul, widely hailed as Korea’s best modern structure, is likely to be registered as a cultural heritage, authorities said Wednesday.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced that the 224.56-square-meter building designed by legendary architect Kim Swoo-geun (1931-1986) between 1971 and 1977 will be reviewed for registration as a cultural heritage site early next year after a thorough inspection next week.

“It is true that modern cultural heritage registration covers buildings more than 50 years old. However, under special circumstances, an exception can be made,” said Kim Sang-gu, a CHA official. The other two buildings that make up the Space headquarters will be excluded from the registration as they are not designed by Kim.

The Space building, which served as the headquarters for the Space Group specializing in urban architecture design, was selected as Korea’s best modern architecture in a Dong-a Ilbo newspaper survey of 100 experts earlier this year. Blanketed in ivy, the building with black brick walls is said to be the epitome of Kim Swoo-geun’s art reflecting Korean aesthetics on Western construction.

The bricks were recycled from the old Seodaemun Prison. The structure has windows on the ceilings and walls in every room, inviting sunlight into every corner. The neighboring Changdeok-gung Palace, including its famous garden, can be seen from anywhere in the building as well.

“Western architecture focuses on the protection of human. That’s why there are walls and rooms in all edifices. But Korean architecture is more of a communication, having nature coexist with humans,” said Kim Won, Kim Swoo-geun’s protege and noted architect, in an interview.

Kim Swoo-geun, one of the pioneers of Korean architecture, designed some of the most memorable and representative structures including Hankook Ilbo headquarters, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation’s Jeong-dong headquarters and Tower Hotel in Namsan.

The Space building, which Kim referred to as his child, also served as the center of non-mainstream culture. Its underground theater “Gonggansarang” hosted premieres of groundbreaking performances including Korean percussion ensemble Samulnori by Kim Duck-soo and traditional dance “Byeongshinchum” by Kong Ok-jin.

The building was on the verge of demolition when the Space Group filed for bankruptcy and put it up for auction. At Thursday’s auction, the bidding for the set of three buildings that make up the group’s headquarters will start at 15 billion won.

Due to its convenient location ― next to the Hyundai headquarters, Changdeokgung Palace and the administrative and business hub of Gwanghwamun ― the buildings, when they were on the market, reportedly attracted Hyundai Heavy Industries, portal site Naver and the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, but no deals were made.

A group of about 110 artists, architects and civic activists held a press conference Monday urging the government to buy the building and turn it into an architecture museum.

“The Space building is not a piece of real estate. It is culture,” the participants said.

A cultural heritage designation may not mean the end of trouble for the building. In accordance with the law, those who own registered cultural heritage can still tear down the building with just a 30-day notice to the administration.

“We are planning to raise funds to secure the building if the auction outcome isn’t promising,” said Choi Hong-gyu, head of the Seoul Museum Association.
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)