Collaboration : Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill ARCHITECTURE, USA
Design Concept
The architectural design concept for the Yongsan Block B4 with Parks P3 & P4 Development is creating a strong
architectural statement that is futuristic while refl ecting traditional and natural elements. The 2 towers attain this
through a bold architectural form, which also creates a harmonious whole within the site context and the overall
scheme of the YIBD masterplan. The B4 development is to be the pinnacle of work/living that points to a new concept
of multi-living space within an environment that embraces nature and maintains sustainability as a lifestyle.
Tower Design Concept
Both buildings consist of slender, sharply angled mini-towers cantilevered around a central core. The mini-towers
feature a dramatic series of diagonal massing cuts that create living spaces that float beyond the structure.This recalls
the eaves of traditional Korean pagodas-a design theme echoed both in the geometry of the building skin and the
jutting canopies at the towers’ base. The theme also evokes the segments of bamboo and, especially in the building
skin, the scales of fish and Korean mythical creatures such as dragons. The scale-like skin is also a performative
element; gaps between its overlapping panels feature operable 600-mm vents through which air can circulate, making
the skin “breathable” like that of certain animals. Towers 1 and 2?about 450 meters and 390 meters tall,
respectively-share an architectural language and, therefore, a close family resemblance, but are not identical. In the
taller structure, the 88-level Tower 1, the massing cuts at the top and bottom of the mini-towers are V-shaped. In the
77-level Tower 2, the cuts move diagonally in a single unbroken line; they are also arranged in a radial pattern around
the core that is perceptible as viewers move around the tower.In both buildings, the mini-tower cuts are clad in glass
at the top and bottom, making for dramatic skylights above the units at the highest levels and a transparent floor
beneath the units at the lowest levels. This offers the opportunity for special high-value penthouse duplex units with
spectacular 360-degree views of downtown Seoul and the adjacent Han River, along with an abundance of natural
light.