Hyundai City World
Hyundai - Seoul, South Korea
Area: 6,000,000 SF; Budget: $300,000,000; Designed: 1998
Project Manager / Lead Designer with Jerde Partnership
Project Manager / Lead Designer with Jerde Partnership
The design for Hyundai City World focused on three primary goals. First to create an urban experience in Mok Dong; a place of leisure and enjoyment, of commerce, and of interaction among people. Second, to establish Hyundai City World's identity which reflects the energy and dynamic qualities of Hyundai enterprises. Third, to become the heart of a new regional shopping and entertainment district.
The project’s three major components, the office tower, department store and retail/entertainment center, each are given a distinct identity and visual presence. A three part site organization was developed. Each corner of the site becomes the location for a distinct marker or architectural icon. The office tower, a twisting, tilting, sometimes obelisk like landmark, is located at the visually prominent northwestern corner.
The glass cylinder angling to the sun marks the primary Retail & Entertainment Center entry. The tower is developed as part urban obelisk and part pyramid. Building surfaces are made of layers or skins, similar to the lightweight screened surfaces of traditional asian architecture.
The skylight volume of the tilted glass cylinder penetrates three levels underground to the cinema lobby and upwards four levels to the high-tech game center. The volume of the space is tilted towards the southwest sun allowing sunlight to wash the lower level plaza and food court seating area while highlighting the theatrical movement of people throughout the space.
