British architecture practice Heatherwick Studio has unveiled design for a shopping centre that looks like "rippled hourglasses" in Seoul, South Korea.

Called Hanwha Galleria, Seoul's well-known shopping center will receive a fresh makeover by Heatherwick studio.

After a competition to redesign six locations in Seoul, the studio’s design for the site was selected as part of competition organised by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

According to the brief, the design should subvert preconceived ideas of what makes a posh department store and highlight the nation's rising stature as a major force in world culture.

Situated at a significant intersection, Hanwha Galleria overlooks the Han River in the distance. Situated in Seoul's Apgujeong-dong neighborhood, the project serves as a hub connecting Gangnam's residential and commercial areas and addresses the city's goal of revitalizing the Han Riverbanks.

The design proposed by the studio redefines the store's relationship to the neighborhood. The proposal uses the facade and the surrounding areas as public spaces, accessible to everyone whether they are shopping at the mall or just enjoying the area, in contrast to a traditional, inward-facing shopping center.  

"Traditionally, department stores are quite inward facing, they feel closed off to the surrounding streets. But here we have an important intersection in Apgujeong with two buildings, east and west, that felt like an opportunity to bring people together," said Neil Hubbard, partner and group leader at Heatherwick Studio. 

"Combined with Hanwha’s ambition to bring more activity to the buildings, we wanted to provide a strong overall silhouette that creates a gateway, but also gives Seoulites new garden-like spaces to meet, shop and enjoy their city," Hubbard added.

The building is made up of two identical but symmetrically opposed twin buildings that are connected below ground by a subway. Their silhouettes above resemble hourglasses with ripples, and the narrower necks inside function as natural public spaces. 

Looking through and between the buildings, the unusual shapes of the twins on the ground level come together to frame the view of the river. 

Visitors are drawn into two ground-level landscaped plazas by the light-filled, airy entrance atria as they ascend the redesigned existing subway. They proceed to an open, mid-level garden that is lined with eateries, shops, and cafes. 

Along with adding more green space, the newly installed open rooftops with lots of plants offer various perspectives and reflections of the city when combined with the glass facade. With thoughtful landscaping and a selection of native plants, the outdoor areas are intended to offer year-round natural interest. 

The double-layered skin of both buildings improves their sustainability credentials and serves as a blank canvas for events and art exhibits. 

During the day, the buildings' exteriors made of crystalline glass create a soft, glowing vibe. When glowing projections are used as a backdrop at night, the outer skin comes to life.

Heatherwick Studio will now work on the project's detailed design and development in collaboration with Haeahn Architecture and the local government.

The project comes after it was recently announced that Thomas Heatherwick, the founder of the studio, will serve as General Director of the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism's fifth edition, which will take place in 2025.

The Korean version of Thomas's book, Humanise: A Maker's Guide to Building Our World, will be released later this year, as the studio explained.

Recently, it was announced that Heatherwick Studio's Vessel was set to reopen to the public at Hudson Yards this year, after the closure of the viewpoint in 2021 following four suicides. The studio is also working on the transformation of an uninhabited island on the Han River into a new public park in the centre of Seoul.

All renderings © Devisual.

> via Heatherwick Studio

concept glass Heatherwick Studio Seoul shopping centre