Firm： WISE Architecture

Type： Commercial › Office

YEAR： 2012

SIZE： 0 sqft - 1000 sqft

The ABC Building is located around SeonJeong Royal Tomb in the Gangnam area of Seoul. The surrounding glaring buildings in Gangnam block the view from the site to the royal tombs park, yet the roof of the five-story building suddenly opens up a beautiful landscaped view of the park. The building can be regarded as an “Architectural Mountain,” and the roof terrace as the “Architectural Summit.” Visitors climb up the building through narrow exterior stair alleys; these five alleys open to the public are cascaded like small waterfalls or a stepped wall garden. Beautiful scenery can be seen from inside the stair alley wall and outside to the royal tombs park at the top of the building.

In terms of building materials, black brick is the most visible material in the building and represent a respect for the historical park. The building begins with brick at its foundation, then changes midway up to a steel frame system and dry brick wall façade without traditional mortar masonry. It creates the transparent experience of a solid brick wall with multiple brick wall layers.

Besides its innovative brick construction method, the potential of this building begins with its simplicity which is represented by a clear layout and the materiality of the brick wall applied in same way. Architecture is the construction of simplicity and the simplicity of construction, understood simultaneously.

Photographs, copyright Chin HyoSook.