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)