One of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries, White Cube opened its second permanent gallery in Asia at the heart of vibrant Gangnam district in Seoul, South Korea. Designed by INTG, White Cube Seoul encompasses exhibition spaces, a private viewing room, and offices which span over 300sqm. The design of White Cube Seoul creates a serene and contemplative environment that encourages visitors to focus on the artwork being exhibited. The neutral and minimalistic design helps to remove any distractions and create a sense of visual clarity that allows the artwork to be appreciated on its terms. To achieve this subtle and refined atmosphere, the design of White Cube Seoul draws inspiration from “Sumuk”, a traditional Korean way of painting that uses only black ink, water, and a translucent surface such as rice paper or silk. The shades of the ink are perceived as the depth or the process/result of layers, rather than representing specific colors. The ink is applied in a way that creates delicate variations in tone and texture. Sumuk paintings are known for their simplicity, elegance, and expressiveness. The space embraces a range of materials with different translucency that can be easily found in the contemporary world. The material palette of the space is selected as a means to the layering and the depth of the space where it becomes a tranquil background for artworks. Finally, the use of clean-edged details in the spatial elements is intended to create a sense of contemporary aesthetics, which balances between the use of contemporary western materials and traditional Korean textures.