BCHO architects: twin trees

'twin trees' by BCHO architects in seoul, korea
all images courtesy BCHO architects
above image by kyungsub shin


seoul-based practice BCHO architects (byoung soo cho) has sent us images of their newest project,
'twin trees', a 17-storey office building in seoul, korea. located adjacent to the historical gyeoungbuk palace,
samchong dong and the insadong area, the design seeks to reference and respect the pre-existing nature
of the site by maintaing the flow of the circulation on both the street and basement level.



exterior view
image by wooseop hwang


the plot, which was the former site of the demolished hankook ilbo building, features numerous small
passages and alleyways which is an integral part of the location's urban fabric. in order to minimize
disruption of this circulatory pattern, the design is read as two autonomous structures that share
7 basement levels below grade. the chasm in between the two volumes maintain pedestrian movement
by providing exterior sitting area as well as a linear bar underground.




street views
images by kyungsub shin


the overall forms of the towers were influenced by the shape of an old korean birch tree trunk,
organic and sculpted as if moulded by flowing water. the reference allows for the structures to
efficiently utilize the irregular site conditions which is composed of vaguely acute angles.
horizontally running structural lines exaggerate the dips and bulges of the undulating facade. 



undulating surface
image by wooseop hwang



glazed facade
image by wooseop hwang



image by kyungsub shin



adjacent to gyeoungbuk palace
image by kyungsub shin



image by kyungsub shin



images by kyungsub shin



from plaza
image by kyungsub shin



interior view
image by kyungsub shin



atrium
image by kyungsub shin



image by kyungsub shin



glazing
image by kyungsub shin



image by kyungsub shin



entrance
image by kyungsub shin



general view



night view
image by wooseop hwang



physical model










facade study - old tree trunk



architect's sketch






site map



site context



schematic diagram



site plan



floor plan / level -2



floor plan / level 0



floor plan / level +3 (typical)



longitudinal section



elevations




post-tension structure


project info:

principal use: office
total area: 65, 918.85 m2
storeys: 8 below grade, 17 above grade
structure: post tension slab, SRC

project team: woohyun kang, erik horn, yongeun bae, sungwha kwon,
jiyoung seu, kihyun park, nicholas locke, eric druse, joohyun park, juno ahn
structural engineer: dongyang structural engineers group
general contractor: hanil engineering & construction company
services engineer: han kook engineering co.
facade contractor: lucky ability curtain wall (seoul, korea)
facade consulting: simpson gumpertz & heger (new york, USA)