stacked brick multi-level building renders floating illusion in seoul's most popular avenue

horizontal glass window strips run between the brick volumes

Urban ark architects form ‘floating strata’ building on the grand Cheongdam-dong street of Gangnam District in Seoul. With trendy restaurants, cafés, and entertainment agency buildings along the busy avenue, a sense of neighborhood easy living lies low. Avoiding excessive gestures in the already opulent area, the five-story building assembles its mass decreasing each floor’s volume upwards. The composition shapes a seemingly solid body out of brick components splitting each layer of the structure with a horizontal strip window. The levels appear floating on top of each other using a repetitive gradation of texture and materiality. The building accommodates offices, art galleries, private lounges, and more functions.

all images courtesy of urban ark architects

brick pattern gradates density upwards for a lighter finish

The ground floor utilizes a transparent glass facade inviting users to the main entrance and lays out a wide open space and a parking lot. The building’s functions spread evenly on the levels above, ascending towards the open roof area where bead-blasted stainless steel and glass are applied for a lighter finish. The volume appears to weigh down the structure as layers closer to the ground cover a larger plot, while the brickwork pattern is, also, denser. However, the perimetrical window strips separating the stacked floors create a floating illusion between them. The narrow glass openings provide panoramic views throughout the construction and take away from the thickness of the masses. Urban ark architects‘ project gives off an airy feel to Gangnam’s busy block.

the seemingly solid body of brick components is split by perimetrical strip windows

each level ascending towards the roof appears lighter

bead-blasted stainless steel and glass are applied on the enclosure of the open roof

the five-story building avoids excessive gestures on its facade

the composition assembles its mass decreasing each floor’s volume upwards

the brickwork pattern is denser towards the ground

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the ground floor lays out a wide open space and a parking lot

a transparent glass facade invites users into the building

the main entrance opens towards the street

the building hosts many functions providing large open spaces

project info:

name: Floating Strata
designer: urban ark architects | @urban_ark

location: Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, South Korea

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom