Heatherwick Studio will redevelop a luxury shopping mall in Seoul and open it up to the public. Two similar hourglass-shaped buildings will replace the more traditional structures. Currently, the Apgujeong-dong area of Seoul is home to two department stores by Hanwha, which is one of the largest companies in South Korea. The Hanwha Galleria department stores mainly sell luxury fashion brands and the trade has been split between two buildings standing on opposite sides of a busy street.
The current Seoul authorities are trying to revitalise the area next to the Han River, and Thomas Heatherwick’s studio has already won several competitions for important redevelopments. You can read about the studio’s other project next to, or indeed on, the river HERE. This time, however, it fell on the most famous luxury goods house Hanwha Galleria. The shopping centre is located in the northern part of the Gangam-gu district, known for its wealth, entertainment and glamour. The two buildings located on opposite sides of the street differ in the type of luxury goods on offer and the size. They are also aesthetically pleasing yet simple in their architecture.
Time for change
Heatherwick studio’s plan is to create two similar hourglass-shaped buildings. The large ground floor area will be filled with shops and appropriately arranged greenery. Despite the ubiquitous glass, the building will not lack space for plants thanks to the terraces at the constriction of the hourglass. Cafés, shops and restaurants will still be located on this level. The roof gardens, on the other hand, will offer a public view of the city skyline and the Han River. Landscape architects are to develop a garden concept composed of appropriately selected local plants. Interestingly, the buildings will be connected by an underground link, which is part of the metro tunnels.
The “hourglass” façade is particularly eye-catching. The glass walls are not only an aesthetic detail but also a good way of thermal insulation. The double façade allows air to flow freely between the panes, which helps to both cool and insulate the building. This solution also promotes better soundproofing of the walls and allows plenty of light into the interior.
It is these factors, i.e. interesting architecture and greenery, that are supposed to invite passers-by to enter the mall. The luxurious nature of today’s department stores does not appear as a place for ordinary meetings and leisure, as the architecture of the buildings does not offer amenities for the average resident. Heatherwick’s project aims to change this and make the ‘Hourglass’ a new, open icon of North Gangam.
Source: Heatherwick Studio
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