Baekje (18 BCE–660 CE) was one of the ancient kingdoms of Korea, established by migrants of Buyeo origin who branched from Goguryeo and settled in the Han River basin. Among its history, the Hansung period—before the capital was relocated to Ungjin—represented the height of Baekje’s prosperity, with the kingdom flourishing in and around present-day Seoul until 475 CE.
In 2022, archaeological excavations conducted at the reconstruction site of Jamsil Jinju Apartment Complex revealed a number of significant remains from the Hansung Baekje period, including pit-house dwellings and various cultural artifacts. Construction was temporarily suspended, and following extensive archaeological investigations and heritage reviews, it was decided that the excavated remains would be relocated, restored, and preserved within a new historical park integrated into the residential development. Among the excavated remains, Dwelling No. 22—the largest pit-house discovered on the site—was designated for full relocation and restoration, while Dwelling No. 21 was incorporated into the landscape design of the park. As a result, a protective shelter became necessary for the preservation of Dwelling No. 22.
The challenge was not simply to protect the archaeological remains from rain and snow. The shelter was required to serve as a landmark within the Hansung Baekje Historical Park while remaining subordinate to the heritage itself. Rather than creating an iconic object that dominates the site, the design sought to reveal the historical traces embedded in the ground and amplify their presence through contemporary architectural means.
This intention led to the concept of Floating Ground—an invisible landmark that reflects and projects the memory of the site. The geometry of the canopy is derived from the hexagonal traces extracted from the archaeological footprint and reinterpreted through a contemporary architectural language. In a park where the ground itself is the cultural artifact and the true protagonist, the canopy acts as a reflective medium rather than an autonomous object. Clad in a super-mirror finish, the structure captures the surrounding landscape and sky, visually dissolving its own presence while creating the impression that fragments of the earth have been lifted into the air.
Visitors approaching the park encounter the mirrored canopy as a floating reflection of the archaeological remains beneath it. The structure reveals rather than conceals the site, guiding visitors toward the reconstructed dwelling and reinforcing awareness of the historical layers embedded within the landscape.
The final form emerged through extensive simulations examining multiple viewpoints, visitor approaches, viewing distances, and the angles and heights of reflective surfaces. Diffused daylight is introduced through translucent panels to illuminate the archaeological remains below, while carefully integrated lighting allows the shelter to softly reveal the site at night and extend its presence into the surrounding park.
The structural system was developed in close collaboration with structural engineers, allowing the inclined surfaces of the canopy to function simultaneously as architectural form and structural framework. Internal truss systems enable a long-span enclosure of approximately 20 meters by 10 meters using only slender columns and lightweight steel members. As a result, the canopy appears to hover above the ground when viewed from a distance, while at close range it minimizes its physical presence, respectfully framing and protecting the archaeological remains beneath.
