Sky Courts Exhibition Hall, located in the International Intangible Culture Park in Chengdu China, utilizes the internalized strategy of the traditional Chinese courtyard house to create a variety of aggregated exhibition galleries within one building. Broken up into a series of variably scaled halls wrapped around seven courtyards, the structure creates a range of open spaces inside the deep floor plan. This ‘packed’ and ‘wrapped’ internalized organization has both spatial as well as environmental benefits to the building.

Spatially, the aggregation of courtyards within the larger building complex becomes a network of spaces linked together by multiple paths, producing an exhibition hall that is at once open and sub-divided. The sequence through these precincts creates a series of layered spaces where one can view from one courtyard to another and another—seeing from inside to outside to inside again.



The center of each courtyard maintains a pure rectilinear geometry, while the overall perimeter of the building accommodates the irregular site boundaries. The roof geometry consists of a series of inward sloping roofs. The roof profile at the perimeter varies to create peaks and valleys. Alternating inclinations of the major ridge lines produce a hyperbolic ruled surface for each roof plane. The use of the ceramic roof tile seizes the tolerance between each tile unit to negotiate the non planar roof condition.



Environmentally, several passive energy strategies (cross ventilation, thermal mass, & daylighting) were developed as integral with the design strategy. In order to create a passively cooled building (there is no active cooling in the building), it was critical to capitalize on cross ventilation through and up the courtyard spaces. Perimeter fenestration clusters with operable windows were positioned on the perimeter wall to create cross ventilation through the operable sliding doors of the courtyards.



The concrete and brick infill walls create significant thermal mass to regulate temperature swings throughout the day. Furthermore, the configuration of spaces around multiple courtyards creates abundant daylight, reducing the need for electric lighting during a significant portion of the day. The daylighting and passive cooling strategies inherited from the traditional courtyard house are re-deployed in this contemporary context.

The perimeter walls of the structure vary in height from 11 to 15 meters and are made from locally produced grey brick. The brickwork is detailed to emphasize the tectonics of the brick as a building module as well as the oblique geometries of the building. Each brick is oriented in the same direction, regardless of the oblique angle of the perimeter walls. This creates an oriented texture such that the west and east facades are smooth while the other faces have a serrated quality.

The windows and exterior doors are clustered on the facades to create a larger figural composition than each individual window can make in such a large internally oriented structure. Using economical and typical window and door sizes, these apertures are packed together using facetted Corten steel ‘window surrounds.’



The figural surrounds negotiate between the scale of a window and the scale of the large exhibition hall, providing an intermediate scale that approaches the tactility found at the level of the masonry detailing. Using local construction strategies, materials and techniques to create a simple but culturally resonant project on the site, the overall effect is an Exhibition Hall which fits into the Chengdu building context, learns from the context’s heritage and provides a unique contemporary, flexible and sustainable space for International Exhibitions.

Project Credits

Chengdu Skycourts, Chengdu, China
Client  : Chengdu Quingyang SCD
Architect : Höweler + Yoon Architecture, Boston—Meejin Yoon, Eric Höweler (principals); Meredith Miller, Ryan Murphy, Parker Lee, Jennifer Chuong, Casey Renner, Chua Matthew, Nerijus Petrokas, Zi Liu, Saran Oki, Cyrus Dochow, Thena Tak, Yushiro Okamoto, Jeremy Jih, Buck Sleeper, Lisa Pauli, Lizzie Krasner (project team)
Size : 67,000 square feet
Cost  Withheld
Photograph : Yihuai Hu

Höweler + Yoon Architecture

Context - photograph yong-kwan kim

Daum is an international IT firm based in Korea, primarily known for its web portal services. Unlike its competitors that are typically located in metropolitan areas, Daum has been planning to relocate its operation to an undeveloped site within Jeju Province (an autonomous island situated off of the southern coast of Korea) for the past 8 years.
Largely known as a major tourism hub, Jeju Province has been encouraging the implementation of other industries in the recent years, one of which is the development of the island's technology-based industrial complex.



Considering the fact that the urban population of Korea has grown from 20% to over 80% in the last 50 years – which makes Korea one of the most urbanized countries in the world – Daum's radical step of exiling themselves to the rural Jeju Province can be framed as a utopian gesture, comparable to Silicon Valley of the late 70's in America, as a rebellious attempt to move away from the urban setting to reinvent an independent, creative work community.



Another dilemma that urban workplaces face in the 21st century is that while the nature of the working organization is becoming more horizontal, the spaces are becoming vertical. Therefore, the generous conditions provided by Jeju Province counters this problem as an opportunity to imagine a new type of spatial organization to match Daum's creative, horizontal working organization.



Masterplan - photograph yong-kwan kim

Over the course of the next decade, Daum plans to gradually relocate its operations.
For the development of the IT complex, Jeju Province has designated a vast, undeveloped land of 1,095,900 square meters on the island's northern mountainside, in close proximity to Jeju University. Daum's site, 300m wide and 800m long at its maximum, is the largest central plot within the development area, measuring 132,000 square meters and parallel to the main road in its longitudinal direction.



Given this scale, one can imagine Daum's complex built progressively over time, a masterplan growing organically across the site's green terrain. As a counteraction to the typical office park development – a homogeneous field of low-rise, non-contextual office blocks floating in a sea of parking lots – Daum's masterplan is designed as a linear growth, dividing the site into opposing rural vs. urban zones and informal vs. formal zones.



The urban zone will be defined by a dense, low rise, 70m wide and 800m long superstructure. This proposal allows functions to be optimized, supporting an efficient urban work zone – an "information superhighway," symbolically as well as literally – and a vast area of park-like space dotted with facilities that will house community activities such as farming, sports, etc.



Each of the buildings in the urban zone, no more than 5 floors high, are situated a floor level above the previous to accommodate the site's gradual 60m rise, taking advantage of this gentle, uniform slope to connect the facilities at different levels. This progressive alignment promotes movement across the site vertically, horizontally and diagonally, effectively increasing the efficiency and unity of the masterplan.



Daum Space. 1 : Formal Structure

During the design process, we thought of a way to create a system of structure that could potentially serve as the grammar for the entire territory. To formalize this notion, we designed five elementary structural modules of 8.4m by 8.4m with variations of extrusional or rotational attributes, to either extend or to end the structure as necessary. As a combination of these modules, the structure expands horizontally and vertically.



With these basic "formal structures," we were able to form various forms of vaulted, or cantilevered spaces within large open planes, while also providing a way for the entire campus to grow organically to meet the unpredictable needs of the future.
As a result, large spaces of 12.6m spans or 6.3m cantilevers are supported by vertical piers with small 3.8m spaces within them, creating a field of spaces of various degrees of size and enclosure.

As the first building within the masterplan, Daum Space. 1 is located near the center of the site, to provide the office space for the first 350 employees as well as other subsidiary functions.



As a combination of these modules, we were able to design the Main Center as a five-storey building that is open on all four sides, allowing the scenic views – a nearby forest to the west, Halla Mountain to the south, and the ocean to the north – to penetrate into the interior, creating a favorable working environment.
The ground floor serves the various shared / public functions. The cafeteria, an open lounge, a café, a small pavilion for Daum's public relations purposes, a game room, a gym, and meeting rooms are located here, as well as an auditorium that is isolated from the work space.



The inclined site meets the entrance road on the southern end of the 2nd floor, where one enters the auditorium. The main entrance to the building is located further into the site, with an outdoor space separating the two entrances. The 2nd floor is provided with a double floor ceiling height and the largest open plan work space, composed of the reception area, office spaces, and a block of conference rooms with a library above it as the 3rd floor.
As one progress upward to the 4th and 5th floors, the floor areas become smaller, allowing for more isolated, intimate office spaces, project rooms and conference rooms, together with outdoor terraces (of either wooden decks or grass).



Inside the piers, which act as the vertical structural elements on all floors, are round or rounded rectangular spaces for various core services, HVAC, stairs, elevators, as well as programs such as smaller meeting rooms, restrooms, and lactation rooms.

As a result, Daum Space. 1 has systematic rigor, but by creating an array of spaces of various scales and qualities, it feels like a village without being picturesque, as a vertical/horizontal field of spatial experiences which anticipates further growth in the near future.

Project : Daum Space Masterplan & Daum Space.1
Design Period : 2008.4 – 2010.6
Construction Period : 2010.7 – 2011.11
Type : Office
Location : Jeju Province, Korea
Site Area : 1,095,000 ㎡ (Masterplan) / 48,383 ㎡ (Daum space.1)
Site Coverage Area : 3,720.38 ㎡
Total Floor Area : 9,184.16 ㎡ (including basement floor)
Building-to-Land Ratio : 7.69%
Floor Area Ratio : 15.90%
Building Scope : 5F, B1
Structure : RC
Finish : Exposed Color Concrete, Wood Deck, Vertical & Roof garden
Structural Engineer : TEO Structure
MEP Engineer : HANA Consulting & Engineers
Lighting Engineer : Newlite
Landscape design : Soltos Landscaping
Construction : Hyundai Development Company
Construction Manager : Hanmi Global Co.
Client : DAUM Communications Corp.

Mass Studies

Seoul Memorial Park

Secluded by mountain hills from a bustling highway gateway, Seoul Memorial Park rests in a serene valley area of the Woo-Myun Mountain on the outskirts of Seoul, South Korea. Seoul Memorial Park is a crematorium constructed in harmony with the natural terrain of the site, which previously lent calming scenic views to meditative passing-by hikers, and is now converted to a sanctuary for solemn rituals concluding life’s journeys.

Canvas for Land Art

To overcome the unwelcomed response from the community, this crematorium was sought to be a “non-erected” building. Instead, Seoul Memorial Park emerges as a form of “land art” sculpted into the existing topography with a flowing array of architectural forms and motifs. Concaved at the center of the Park, lies a courtyard encompassed by a series of ritual spaces devoted to separate functions.

These spatial layers bordering the courtyard resonate from a distance with the surrounding mountain trails and ridges. The 2-storey high crematorium facility configured in the curvilinear belt along the courtyard has roof structures linked in the way flower petals pinwheel one another, punctuated by a reflective pool at the very heart of the courtyard.

Comfort in the Final Journey

Families in bereavement take the final journey of parting as they encircle the courtyard along a path reminiscent of spiritual spaces with vaulted ceilings and indirect lighting. Towards the cremation alcove, the ceiling rises drastically as a clearstory above a triforum. Upon completion of the path, a meandering garden comforts the bereft.

As the water from the mountain flows down and gives life to the garden, one might be reminded of the transfiguration of sorrows in praise of the harmony in nature. The garden shimmers with sunlight, whispers with snowfalls, and dances with spring rains. Season by season, tranquility is discovered and the spirit is renewed. Just as nature was dissolved into a building to rest in the valley, Seoul Memorial Park was embodied in a piece of land art to celebrate life and transfigure sorrows.

Date of Completion: 2012
Site Area: 36,000 m2
GFA: 18,000 m2
Client: Seoul Municipal Facilities Management Corporation

HAEAHN Architecture

Asymptote Architecture principals Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture are pleased to announce the launch of the Velo Towers, within the Dreamhub development in the Yongsan District of Seoul Korea. Asymptote’s project is designed as an integral part of the master plan accommodating several new projects that are situated along the newly planned Yongsan Park. Neighboring projects include MVRDV’s Cloud Towers, the Cross # Towers by BIG Architects and Project R6 by REX.

The Velo Towers are composed as a dynamic arrangement of stacked and rotated volumes that are a formal and programmatic counterpoint to the conventional extrusion of massing that exemplifies the supertall as a building type. By breaking down the scale and massing of the two distinct towers into interconnected circular and oblong volumes, the Velo project proposes an alternative architectural and urbanistic response to the repetitive and monolithic austerity of conventional tower design.

The recombination of the typical tower form into a new horizontal and vertical configuration enables the formation of a socially engaging and dynamic environmental response, as well as the creation of a discreet yet compelling architectural landmark for the Yongsan district. The Towers’ eight distinct residential components are rotated and positioned within a carefully choreographed massing arrangement, calibrating the orientation and views of each residential volume and taking full advantage of the Towers’ position adjacent to the Yongsan Park overlooking the Han River in the distance.

With a collection of roof gardens, shared amenities and internal circulation around light filled open atrium spaces, the vertically distributed massing elements create unique 6 to 8 storey residential communities on the skyline. The towers are joined by two bridge structures that house shared public amenities, and act as neighborhood scale ‘connectors’ for the towers’ residents. The building’s raised plinth hovers above the communal landscape surrounding the base of the Towers while the Skybridge floats 30 storeys above; housing fitness and recreations centers, lounges, pools, spas and cafes along with a sky garden providing spectacular views over the entire Yongsan site.

While the overall massing of the Velo Towers is comprised of a dynamic arrangement of rotated and stacked components, the architecture of the towers is further articulated volumetrically and materially at the scale of the facades. The unique faceted façades of the Velo Towers are comprised of large prefabricated components consisting of glass within custom molded composite shells finished in pearlescent automotive paint. The 500 individual luxury units that vary in size from 45m2 to 82m2 are also designed for compatibility with custom prefabricated plug-in interior components.

Asymptote’s design of the Velo Towers exploits the latest advances in design, materials and digital fabrication that are now prevalent in present day automotive, aerospace and marine industries. The merging of these with the latest technological advancements in architecture and the ways in which components can be fabricated and buildings assembled, is enabling Asymptote’s vision for the Velo Towers to be realized.

The Velo Towers is the third Asymptote project now underway in South Korea. Along with the Velo Towers there is a 3000 sq meter structure for multimedia exhibitions near Gwangui that is scheduled to open in September 2012 and the 650 m tall World Business Center Tower (WBCB) in Busan is currently under development.

Asymptote Architecture

Baking studio Una’s Kitchen is located in Chungdamdong, Seoul, as a contemporary space based on black and white. The owner/chef planned the space to share tasty food with beloved people and the space is full of the client’s emotion entirely.

The 70 sq m space is not only divided into kitchen, office and studio but also connected by the transparent Double-Wall Polycarbonate. The boomerang-formed studio table(to a thickness of a centimetre, 4.2 metres long in length) located in centre of studio is based on black and white with the classic colour, gold.

Una’s Kitchen, based on black, white and gold, shows canvas and object including the intention of owner/chef, majoring in sculpture from art school in Hongik University and the space designer.

Location: 62-3 3F Nao Bldg.,Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Client: Una’s Kitchen
Architect: Nordic Bros. Design Community | Shin Yong-Hwan

Nordic Bros. Design Community

Busan Cinema Center / Busan International Film Festival, Busan, South Korea (2005 – 2012)

The Busan Cinema Center – A multifunctional urban plaza

COOP HIMMELB(L)AU’s design for the Busan Cinema Center and home of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) provides a new intersection between public space, cultural programs, entertainment, technology and architecture creating a vibrant landmark within the urban landscape.

LED saturated outdoor roof elements acting as a virtual sky connect building-objects and plaza-zones into a continuous, multifunctional public urban space.

Media, technology, entertainment and leisure are merged in an open-architecture of changeable and tailored event experiences. The result is a responsive and changing space of flows acting as an urban catalyst for cultural exchange and transformation.

Project Description

The concept envisions an urban plaza of overlapping zones including an Urban Valley, a Red Carpet Zone, a Walk of Fame and the BIFF Canal Park. The urban plaza is formed by building and plaza elements sheltered by two large roofs that are enabled with computer programmed LED outdoor ceiling surfaces. The larger of the roofs includes a column-free cantilever of 85 meters over a multifunctional Memorial Court event plaza. The urban zones of the complex are formed by individual and recognizable building objects placed below the outdoor roofs. The building objects contain theater, indoor and outdoor cinemas, convention halls, office spaces, creative studios and dining areas in a mixture of sheltered and linked indoor and outdoor public spaces. The design of these spaces supports flexible, hybrid functionality that can be used both during the annual festival period and day-to-day use without interruption.

The urban zones defined by functional surfaces in plan are further articulated in a sectional dialogue between stone-clad “ground” forms of the Cinema Mountain and BIFF Hill, and the metal and LED clad “sky” elements of the roofs. The materiality of the building objects differentiates the spaces and articulates the architectural concept. Through their shape, placement and materiality, the various parts create a dynamic and informal tension between the ground and the roof.

Architecture and Cinema – the Main Roof

The dynamic LED lighting surface covering the undulating ceilings of the outdoor roof canopies gives the Busan Cinema Center its symbolic and representative iconographic feature. Artistic lighting programs tailored to events of the BIFF or the Municipality of Busan can be created by visual artists and displayed across the ceiling in full motion graphics, creating a lively urban situation at night, but also visible during the day.

Cinema Mountain

The Cinema Mountain is a multifunctional building containing both a 1,000 seat multifunctional theater with fly-tower and full backstage support, and a three-screen multiplex comprised of a 400-seat and two 200-seat Cinemas. Separate entrances and foyers are provided for theater and cinema respectively, however the foyers and circulation are designed so that they can be combined depending on operational preferences.

Complete structural separation between the theater and the cinemas ensures optimal noise isolation for the theater space, which is designed as a first-class, flexible hall with seating on two levels and optimal sight lines and adjustable acoustics. A flexible proscenium type stage with side stages and fly-tower accommodates movable acoustical towers used to close down the stage volume for concerts and operatic theater, but can be easily moved for theater, musicals and other staged events. The stage includes a fore-stage lift that can provide additional seating, an orchestra pit or stage extension as preferred. Horizontally tracking curtains along the walls of the audience chamber can be hidden or deployed to adjust the acoustics of the space.



BIFF Canal Park

The BIFF Canal Park is proposed as an extension of the open network of public programs into the planned riverside park, and as a linking element between the river and the cinema complex. A new pedestrian footbridge is proposed to connect the Busan Cinema Center site with the park across the Boulevard to the South connecting the Double Cone with the APEC Park. An additional outdoor event ‘bowl’ is proposed surrounded by canals that can provide public and private boat access to the project site. Space for a future extension of the Busan Cinema Center project is proposed as an island among the canals, further integrating the cultural functions of the Busan Cinema Center project with the surrounding public space and landscape environment.

Site Area: 32,100 m²
Net Floor Area (interior spaces): 51,067 m²
Gross Floor Area (interior spaces): 57,981 m²
Built-up Area: 10,005 m² (without roofs)
Cubage: 349,708 m³

Coop Himmelblau

The store as a huge vault, concealing precious merchandise.
Papyrus is an optician's retail space, and the client wanted an eye-catching landmark.

Wallga Associates applied the concept of concealment - a good way to maximize the perceived value of the merchandise. Until you open the door and go inside, the store is nothing more than a big safe.

Once you enter, the experience is something like being in a secret, de luxe vault.

At first glance, all you see is the restrained asile space surriunded by elegant antiqued walls. you have your own secret time to search for a stylish pair of glasses. Most stores expose their product to attract customers; that's the common-sense approach. But we want to challenge the fundamental paradigms of retail space.

Wallga Associates figured that efficiently closing out the space world ultimately elevate the shopper's concentration on the product. We even dimmed the lighting throughout the store, except for LED spotlights that pick out the 'hidden' products.



Location : Sinsa-dong 614, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Project : Retail space for optician
Concept : The store as a huge vault, concealing precious merchandise
Client : Private
Area : 118 M2
Completed : June 2012

Wallga Associates