morphosis to use synthetic fibers in the façade of kolon headquarters in seoul

morphosis has envisioned the kolon group’s expansive headquarters in seoul’s magok district — an area attracting companies from the technology and information sectors. the four-acre site neighbors the district’s central park, a prominent location for what will be magok’s first major completed building.

the building folds towards the park, providing passive shading to the lower floors
all images © morphosis

led by thom mayne, morphosis‘ scheme involves the construction that faces towards the park, providing passive shading to the lower floors. the kolon group specializes in developing textiles, chemicals, and sustainable technologies for original clothing lines in the athletic and ready-to-wear fashion markets. the distinctive brise-soleil system on the western façade is both a performative and symbolic feature of the complex. the façade units have been parametrically-shaped to balance shading and views, and are made from a GFRP formulation that uses one of kolon’s own high-tech fabrics, aramid — a synthetic fiber that increases the material’s tensile strength.

the headquarters are being constructed in magok industrial park

with the goal of achieving LEED gold rating, the project focuses on the quality of the work environment through roof terraces, courtyards, and other features that will increase natural light and air for employees. furthermore, a bubble deck slab has been added into the material components that reduces the amount of concrete used by 30%. the building program itself features a transparent ground plane which extends the landscape into the interior, drawing light and movement towards an open pedestrian laneway and grand entry. at 30 meters in height and spanning a length of 100 meters, an expansive multi-storey atrium serves as the building’s social center.

 massive 8 meter ‘stretchers’ allow a changing display of kolon’s own fabrics

movement is revealed on all floors through the atrium’s transparent liner system

the project focuses on the quality of the work environment through roof terraces, courtyards

scale section model of the morphosis scheme

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project info:

name: kolon corporate and research headquarters
location: seoul, korea
client : kolon industries, inc.
phase 1: 821,286.36 sqf / 76,300 sqm (phase I)
phase 2: 242,220.28 sqf / 22,503 sqm (phase II)
program: corporate headquarters, offices, and research center including labs, meeting suites, exhibition space, brand shop, cafeteria, library, lecture rooms
design: nov 2013 – nov 2015
construction: june 2015 – mar 2018
type: commercial
LEED: gold (expected)

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