The Hyundai Card Music Library and Understage are located on the main
street of Itaewon, the thriving and most international neighborhood in
burgeoning Seoul.
T
he building was designed by Choi Moon-kyu, an architecture professor.
Choi mapped out the open and empty exterior design which has been
realized as a hollow frame structure. The slope of the land, which resembles
a small hill, encompasses the entire building as a continued space. Choi
maintained the slope for co-existence of topography and building. Utilizing
the slope, he designed the open structure to maximize communication. In
Seoul with skyline of high rise buildings, Hyundai Card Music Library and
Understage make a precious little space for visitors to take time for relax.
Global architecture company Gensler took over the final interior design and
finishing.
The space aims to expand the realm of music and culture in the region. The library is
where visitors can enjoy an analogue music culture while the “understage” is a hip
cultural space for musicians of all genres.
The outside wall of the building is a work of French street artist JR while the wall of the
indoor stage is a creation of Portuguese graffiti artist Vhils. Such works reflect free spirit,
passion and liveliness of Hyundai Card Music Library and Understage. Through such
artwork, the walls of Understage
become a unique space to offer
inspiration to musicians who practice
and perform there.
The library on the second floor
features valuable collections of
10 000 vinyl albums since the 1950s
and onward. Visitors can select
vinyl records from the shelves and
request an individual listening
experience. There are 3 000 music
related publications that are difficult
to find elsewhere. Global curators,
including DJ Scott Mou from New
York and music journalist Hajime
Oishi from Japan participated in the
music selection along with Korean DJ
Soulscape. The curators and Hyundai
Card staff traveled to 11 countries
over two years to collect rare
albums. There were four principles
for curation—inspiring, vitalizing,
pivotal and timeless music and music
books.
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