BCHO architects: twin trees

BCHO architects: twin trees

influenced by the shape of an old tree trunk, the towers maintain the circulation of the urban fabric by providing a passageway between the structures as well as underground. 

‘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.

BCHO architects: twin trees - 1 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.

BCHO architects: twin trees - 2 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. 

BCHO architects: twin trees - 3 undulating surface image by wooseop hwang

BCHO architects: twin trees - 4 glazed facade image by wooseop hwang

BCHO architects: twin trees - 5image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 6 adjacent to gyeoungbuk palace image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 7image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 8images by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 9 from plaza image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 10 interior view image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 11 atrium image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 12image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 13 glazing image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 14image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 15 entrance image by kyungsub shin

BCHO architects: twin trees - 16general view

BCHO architects: twin trees - 17 night view image by wooseop hwang

BCHO architects: twin trees - 18physical model

BCHO architects: twin trees - 19

BCHO architects: twin trees - 20

BCHO architects: twin trees - 21facade study – old tree trunk

BCHO architects: twin trees - 22architect’s sketch

BCHO architects: twin trees - 23

BCHO architects: twin trees - 24site map

BCHO architects: twin trees - 25site context

BCHO architects: twin trees - 26schematic diagram

BCHO architects: twin trees - 27site plan

BCHO architects: twin trees - 28floor plan / level -2

BCHO architects: twin trees - 29floor plan / level 0

BCHO architects: twin trees - 30floor plan / level +3 (typical)

BCHO architects: twin trees - 31longitudinal section

BCHO architects: twin trees - 32elevations

BCHO architects: twin trees - 33 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)