The ARC multimedia pavilion, built in the South Korean city of Daegu, became one of four "River Pavilions", which presented national programs for the conservation of ecosystems of the country's largest waterways - Hangang, Naktongan, Kumgang and Suyeonggang. Actually, on the banks of one of them, namely the longest river in South Korea, the Naktongan, the ARC was erected, which the architects gave the shape of a giant oval bowl, setting it on top of a mound. The artificial relief is actually an integral part of the composition: the entrance to the pavilion is carried out through an underground tunnel laid in the hill.
The pavilion facades are made of silver ETFE cushions. The seeming ephemerality of the shell is emphasized with the help of a small pool, which Asymptote placed at the base of the "bowl" - the building is reflected in it as if in a mirror, and the glare of the water, in turn, "illuminates" the facades of the pavilion, further "thinning" them.
The interior space is decided in a completely different way: it is a "black box" with an exposition that creates an alternative reality. The architects themselves call ARC a “multimedia theater”: visitors are immersed in the life of the Naktong River in the modern world through video, sound and light effects, as well as constant movement: the exposition located on three levels is designed in the form of a spiral.
The uppermost level of the building is an open observation deck, the wooden platform of which is adjacent to another small reservoir. As conceived by the authors, at the moment when the acquired "virtual" experience reaches its climax, the visitor again encounters reality, having the opportunity to simultaneously feel the physical presence of water and enjoy the breathtaking view of the majestic river.
