asymptote: dream hub yongsan IBD masterplan

asymptote’s ‘dream hub’ proposal for the yongsan international business district all images courtesy of dream hub

asymptote‘s proposal for the ‘dream hub’ in seoul, korea, was one of the shortlisted projects for the future development of the yongsan international business district in the metropolitan korean city. their concept was influenced by the korean cultural landscape, drawing on the architecture, nature and the arts of the country, with themes of elegance, the future and sustainability in mind.

in addition to world class business, commercial sites, accommodation and residential amenities, asymptote’s masterplan proposal offers a variety of attractions. the centerpiece is the one-of-a-kind tri-part tower, maintaining the promise that the district’s new iconic tower would be the tallest building in asia. the central square below the tower holds an aqua-garden where guests can view the tower through an illuminated sheet of water. the nearby river front offers an open park with an overlooking museum, luxury ferry terminal and yacht club. a state of the art planetarium and mediateque spaces offer digital activities for both business professionals and guests to the site.

green space and an aqua park would be part of the district’s central square

aerial view

aerial view – rendering

the various states in which the tri-part tower façade can appear, reacting to it’s surrounding environment

the vertical motion inside the tri-part tower complements the activity in the rooms of the structure, while real time tracks of the elevators’ movements can be seen on the outside of the building. the inside activity of the building is resented to the outside in the most minimal form, through the distribution of lit and unlit spaces. these so-called ‘pixels’ come to life and create a dialogue between the offices on different floors of the façade. the façade reacts to the surrounding weather conditions, flickering in heat, during heavy wind and showing rain flow during storms. during special events, the façade takes a different role and lives together with the city, reacting not only to its own internal state or the prevalent conditions, but the surrounding city’s activity.

tower elevations from left to right: east, north, west, south

structural progression of the tower – model

basic layout of the masterplan

the landmark tower is situated in the centre district, acting as the main focal point of the plan. the other towers are arranged and designed in a way which maximizes views to and from the tower.