‘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)
BCHO ARCHITECTS (9)
Feb 27, 2020
Dec 07, 2016
Mar 23, 2014
Jun 16, 2013
Jun 09, 2013PRODUCT LIBRARY
Jul 13, 2021
Jul 12, 2021
Jul 11, 2021
Jul 08, 2021
It is beautiful indeed, during my final studies as a building architect in 1980 I had the same dream of connecting the underground passing underneath the market place whereon I should design my opera house directly with this new building but after same sketches I abandoned the idea, being too complex, here it is solved perfectly, I believe that the form of the building emerges also from the external walls of the underground and vice-versa, the only critique I could have would be that the maquette is more beautifully lit in the night than the real thing, to have the same effect the floors could also let light pass through by being made in two layers and open on their edges, anyway, a big bravo to the whole team!
WAU!
simple idea , great project
fantastic !!!
congratulations
if you build it, they still won’t come…
It’s pretty easy. You take peace of wood and you have building. Simply beautifull.
this fuckin awesome!