Korean Curtural Center, New Delhi

The Korean Cultural Center in New Delhi is a multi-functional cultural facility consisting of one basement level and four above-ground floors. The center was planned as a space to introduce Korean culture and arts while promoting cultural exchange with the local community. The building accommodates a variety of cultural and educational programs —including a performance hall, taekwondo studio, Hallyu experience zone, exhibition galleries, café, Korean language institute, and library—allowing visitors to experience Korean culture in diverse ways.

This project is a renovation of an existing building, in which a central atrium that vertically penetrates the interior becomes the key spatial element of the design. The atrium visually connects each floor while drawing natural light deep into the building, forming a central space where visitors’ movement and activities naturally intersect.

Within the atrium, the three symbolic colors (blue, red, and yellow) of the Korean Cultural Center are expressed through glass elements. Inspired by traditional Korean symbols such as the taegeuk and the lantern-like cheongsachorong, these colors are arranged vertically along the atrium, giving the space a strong identity and visual rhythm. Natural light entering through the skylight above passes through the colored glass, creating layered and vibrant lighting effects throughout the space. As the light changes over time, the atrium offers a continuously evolving spatial experience, while in the evening the interior lighting creates a different atmospheric expression.

Through the interplay of light, color, and natural elements, the Korean Cultural Center in New Delhi presents an architectural interpretation of Korean cultural symbolism and proposes an open cultural platform where cultural exchange and communication can take place within the city.