UNstudio's dazzling design for the new Hanwha HQ in Seoul

UNstudio has a shiny new design for the remodeling of the headquarters for Hanwha, a leading environmental energy company in Seoul, Korea. In the competition to remodel the tower, UNstudio teamed up with ARUP Hong Kong, Loos van Vliet, and agLicht in creating the winning proposal.

The tower will be transformed inside and out including common-area interior spaces, lobbies, meeting levels, executive areas, the auditorium, landscaping, and last but not least the LED-light animated façade.

Check out the project below.

Project description:

"Located on the Cheonggyecheon in Seoul, the 57,696 m2 headquarter building was seen to no longer reflect Hanwha as one of the leading environmental technology providers in the world. For the competition to remodel the tower UNStudio teamed with Arup (sustainability and facade consultant) and Loos van Vliet (landscape designer). Following the selection of the competition design, agLicht joined as lighting consultant for the interior, landscape and facade lighting.

Lighting design: The concept for the animated facade lighting responds to the media activities on Hanbit Avenue. The facade is animated by individual LED pixels, with the lighting reflecting different parts of the building and highlighting areas of activity within. The pixelated lighting references nature, data processing and energy forms and is designed to form part of the overall Hanwha branding strategy with its position as one of the world’s leading environmental technology providers. 

"Responsive facade concept: In response to the request that the design be guided by the surroundings, influenced by nature and driven by the environment, UNStudio developed an integrated responsive facade concept which improves the indoor climate of the existing building and reacts to both the programme distribution and the location.

Well-being: Social well-being is considered fundamental for enhanced creativity and concentration and is driven by several factors, the most significant of which is the improvement of the indoor environment - primarily in order to enhance physical comfort. The existing façade contains horizontal bands of opaque panelling and single layers of dark glass. In the remodelling this will be replaced by clear insulated glass and aluminium framing to accentuate views and daylight. The geometry (pattern, size and reveal) of the framing is further defined by the sun and orientation factors to ensure user comfort inside and reduced energy consumption. 

In the design for the Hanwha headquarter building the North facade opens to enable day lighting within the building but becomes more opaque on the South façade, where the sun would otherwise have too much impact on the heat load of the building. Openings within the facade are further related to the views: opening up where views are possible but becoming more compact on the side adjacent to the nearby buildings."

"Solar impact and PV integration: Direct solar impact on the building is reduced by shading which is provided by angling the glazing away from direct sunlight, while the upper portion of the South facade is angled to receive direct sunlight. The window to wall ratio is taken into account in order to achieve 55% transparency across the entire facade, while PV cells are placed on the opaque panels on the South / Southeast facade at the open zones where there is an optimal amount of direct sunlight. Furthermore, PV panels are angled in the areas of the facade where energy from the sun can best be harvested. 

Facade expression: The basis for the facade expression is to achieve an effect of variety, irregularity and intricacy throughout the facade. This is approached by combining a system of multi-scaled elements in a simple fashion and is additionally informed by the programme. By varying the placement of the facade panels a variety of programme-related openings are created. Variations in programme therefore create the opportunity for differentiation, with the result that the restaurant, the executive room, the sky gardens, the seminar spaces etc. are all expressed in the facade."

"Interior concept – lobby: In UNStudio’s concept for the lobby of the Hanwha headquarter building the landscape continues into the interior and acts as a guiding aid, while natural materials and planting provide a relaxing environment for visitors. A subtle colour scheme is combined with wooden furnishing and in both the North and the South entrance lobbies a coffee corner creates the possibility for social interaction and exchange."

Project data:

Hanwha Headquarter Office Tower Remodeling, Seoul, Korea, 2013 
Client: Hanwha Life 
Location: Seoul, Korea 
Building surface: 57,696 m2 above ground 
Building volume: 250,174 m3 
Building site: 15,333 m2
Shared Plot Program: Renovation of facade, interior of common spaces and lobbies, meeting levels including auditorium and executive areas, redesigning of the landscape.  Status: Competition 1st prize

Credits 
UNStudio
Competition phase: Ben van Berkel, Astrid Piber with Ger Gijzen and Sontaya Bluangtook, Shuang Zhang, Luke Tan, Yi-Ju Tseng, Albert Gnodde, Philip Knauf.  
Internal consultants: Martin Zangerl and Juergen Heinzel. 
Schematic Design: Ben van Berkel, Astrid Piber with Ger Gijzen and Martin Zangerl, Sontaya Bluangtook, Jooyoun Yoon and Alberto Martinez 

Advisors 
Landscape consultant and designer: Loos van Vliet 
Facade and sustainability consultant: ARUP Hong Kong
Lighting consultant interior and facade: AG Licht

Images courtesy of UNstudio.

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