Haus der Kunst, Munich

As part of the exhibition “For Children: Art Stories Since 1968,” an extraordinary hybrid of art installation and kinetic sculpture was created at the Haus der Kunst in Munich: House of Magnet – a temporary, navigable spatial structure designed by internationally renowned artist Koo Jeong A. The 440 m² intervention interweaves conceptual sculpture, spatial atmosphere, and urban movement culture to create an open space for experience at the intersection of art, architecture, and social practice.

The sculptural structure was located in the eastern interior of the house and extends into the outdoor space via foldable ramp elements. This creates a flowing transition between inside and outside, light and shadow, body and space. Z-shaped benches, curved ramp forms, and permeable lines of sight make the space equally usable and viewable—a space for movement and contemplation.

The central component is a sculpturally modeled “Vulcano,” enclosed by a U-shaped quarter pipe, flanked by functional elements such as a manual pad, integrated seating steps, and a photoluminescent surface. The design follows the Taoist principle of Qi – the idea of a flowing, universal life energy. When in use, this energy becomes physically and atmospherically tangible through movement, speed, light reflections, and social interaction.

The planning was carried out in close collaboration with the artist. The aim was to transform her creative idea into a functional and safety-compliant spatial sculpture, taking into account museum conditions and technical requirements. Particular attention was paid to user-friendliness for beginners in combination with creative possibilities for advanced users. A project-specific solution enabled the use of photoluminescent paints on a fireproof substrate without impairing the surface’s trafficability. To this end, a custom structure made of certified fire protection panels was created using a vacuum pressure sealing process from Firesec, onto which the coating from ColuxGlow could be applied.

Haus der Magnet is not a classic exhibition object, but a temporary space of possibility: art to be experienced, movement as a medium of perception—a navigable sculpture that transcends museum boundaries and invites active participation.