harim's new headquarters designed by beck group includes a sparkling slit across its façade

the harim group welcomes its new headquarters on one of the most active pedestrian streets in the gangnam distritc of seoul. the agriculture industry giant commissioned the beck group, who predominantly works with real estate developers, corporations, organizations and institutions, to design and build their facilities. this particular project consists of three stories of restaurants at the base with 14 stories of office space above in an effort to create a strong identity on the skyline during the day and particularly at night. the client required the building to be sustainable while providing a strong public presence on the street.

the harim headquarters’ main façade

within a tightly constrained floor area, the beck group added a vertical recessed slot allows the eastern summer wind to create a low pressure zone along the north face of the building. the low pressure zone allows natural ventilation of the office space from the operable windows around the perimeter of the floor. this allows the curve to link the public area on the ground floor with the roof garden, providing a visual identity for the building. the slot is highlighted with polished stainless steel panels incorporating a perforated and textured pattern which are illuminated at night by a series of recessed white LEDs that through multiple reflections create a soft, shimmering lighting effect. the building includes high performance glass, LED light fixtures, underfloor air distribution, a green roof, and perimeter operable windows.

the building is situated on one of the most active pedestrian streets in the gangnam distritc of seoul

in order to maximize the building’s height within the zoning code, a large public space is provided on the ground floor. the public space flows from the street to a courtyard in the rear, which is defined by aluminum panels that graphically recall the curve at the building’s front. this space includes restaurants, fountains, and public seating in a district with almost no public amenities. the roof has a circular conference room overlooking the roof garden and the city beyond while the interior and public spaces reinforce the architectural concept through the consistent and rhythmic use of materials and geometric patterns, creating a texture and pattern that weaves throughout the building.

the façade details

the main entrance looking onto the busy street

the main entrance

the main lobby and courtyard interior

the main lobby’s interior space

the executive suite interior

the board room interior

the perforated metal panel details

main façade details and concept diagrams

the concept sketch

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edited by: lynn chaya | designboom