HANDS headquarters by the system lab connects inhabitants and passerby's

HANDS headquarters by the system lab connects inhabitants and passerby’s 
all images © yongkwan kim

the HANDS corporation headquarters is a departure from typical urban architecture. located at 104 hannam blvd., in seoul, korea the building sits on one of the most congested streets in the city. the characteristic traffic became a starting point for architecture firm, THE_SYSTEM LAB, who experimented with the visual interaction between users in the structure, and pedestrians and drivers outside. natural visual communication between the two environments, reevaluates the architecture and its place within the korean landscape.

front face of HANDS headquarters

functioning primarily as an office, inhabitants of the headquarters are often there for eight or more hours a day, usually in an enclosed space. to free the users, balconies adjacent to all offices. the small spaces implemented by THE_SYSTEM LAB would allow the conveniences of impromptu meetings, private phone calls, and a spot to breathe some fresh air. to create the terraces, builders used the outer façade. as the structure and sub-structure merge or divide, void space is formed–similar to the rib anatomy of gothic vaulted ceilings–and a platform can be placed. 

a steel plate split-mold was fabricated to construct the curved façade. concrete was poured, one section at a time, for the entire surface. the system lab organized production using color-coordination which allowed workers to easily compile the exterior. different experiences of the building is hoped to encourage short communications between passerby’s (as they glance at the building) and users (standing at the balcony) bringing a bit of joy to the otherwise expressionless urban landscape.

terraces are built in the voids of the exterior façade 

all offices spaces are directly connected to an outdoor area

the exterior is made of molded concrete

the system lab wanted to change the dynamic of architecture in relation to the environment

the headquarters is located on one of seoul’s busiest streets

interior

interior of headquarters

elevation profiling (color coordination)

steel form drawing

steel form drawing

project info:

architect: the system lab
location: 104, hannam-daero, yongsan-gu, seoul, korea
site area: 433.00㎡
building area: 244.73㎡
gross floor area: 1,315.53㎡
design period: 2012.09-2013.01(architecture), 2013.11-2014.01(interior)
construction period: 2013.05 ~ 2014.03
construction: geo hyun construction co.,ltd(architecture), kumkang enterprises co., ltd(interior)
client: hands corporation ltd
design: chanjoong kim  
design team: choonglyeol lee, sanghyun park, jongkil kim, jinchul choi

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