UNStudio’s design has been selected as the winning entry for the remodelling of the Hanwha Headquarter office tower in Seoul.The renovation of the office tower incorporates the remodelling of the facade, the interior of the common spaces, lobbies, meeting levels, auditorium and executive areas, along with the redesign of the landscaping.

Ben van Berkel: “By means of a reductive, integrated gesture, the facade design for the Hanwha HQ implements fully inclusive systems which significantly impact the interior climate of the building, improve user comfort and ensure high levels of sustainability and affordability. Through fully integrated design strategies today’s facades can provide responsive and performative envelopes that both contextually and conceptually react to their local surroundings, whilst simultaneously determining interior conditions.” 

UNStudio’s design for the Hanwha’s headquarter building incorporates the renovation and remodelling of the facade, the interior of the common spaces, lobbies, meeting levels, auditorium and executive areas, along with the redesign of the landscaping. Several important variables were required to be incorporated into the redesign, most essentially the surroundings, nature and the environment. UNStudio’s concept for the project resulted in the design of a responsive facade which prioritises and integrates groups of key parameters: programme (exterior and interior), indoor climate and environmental considerations.
The existing façade contains horizontal bands of opaque panelling and single layers of dark glass. In the remodelling this is replaced by clear insulated glass and aluminium framing to accentuate views and daylight. The geometry of the framing is further defined by the sun and orientation factors to ensure user comfort inside and reduced energy consumption.

The basis for the facade expression is largely formed by the programme. By varying the placement of the facade panels a variety of programme-related openings are created. 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.

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. 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.

The facade is animated by individual LED pixels, with dynamic lighting reflecting different parts of the building and highlighting areas of activity within. In the concept for the lobby areas the landscape continues into the interior and acts as a guiding aid, while natural materials and planting provide a relaxing environment for visitors.

All Images © UNStudio

Project Facts

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

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

> via UNStudio