asymptote architecture: WBCB solomon tower advances

detail of world business center (WBCB) solomon tower by asymptote architecture
all images / renderings courtesy asymptote architecture

work on the millennium tower world business center (WBCB) in busan, korea by asymptote
architecture is progressing towards a 2012 opening date. the 490m tall WBCB tower,
commissioned through an international competition organized by the busan international
architectural culture festival (BIACF) and sponsored by the municipality of busan city
and the solomon group in 2008, will become one of the tallest buildings in asia.

designboom in collaboration with asymptote previewed this project in october 2008
in the exhibition 'seoul design essence, in seoul city. at that time the three-towered design for
the world business center busan was planned to have a height of 550m.



millennium WBCB solomon tower






close-up



view at night

it is a newly minted approach where the notion of singularity and autonomy gives way to a strong juxtaposition of form and voids. simultaneously a single entity, the towers are also read as three distinct forms set against busan's
dramatic natural backdrop of sea and mountains. the base of the tower artfully negotiates the site
at the entrance level while from the top of the midsection the three slender towers rise above
the skylobby level and gracefully taper upwards around a spectacular central void.


the millenium tower






the tower from all different angles



the exterior and interior


comissioner: municipality of busan city and the solomon group
project: hani rashid and lise anne couture
project architect: theo lalis sarantoglou
design team phase II: hani rashid, lise anne couture, theo lalis sarantoglou, angie co, andrew bryant,
kasper ax, elise delestre, alessandro gess, martin henn, klaus ransmayr.
structures: ARUP david scott, matt jackson, matthew clark, gordon carrie
landscape: balmori associates
consultants: cladding consultants: front inc. michael ra, mark simmons, elaine yau, ryan salvas lighting
consultant: l’observatoire international herve descottes.