Thomas Heatherwick announces new mixed-used retail project from Heatherwick Studio following the announcement of Heatherwick being named as General Director of the fifth edition of the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, which takes place from September 1st to October 31st next year. Heatherwick is also behind the new 'Soundscape' public park designed for the city's artificial Nodeul Island and scheduled to open by the year 2027.
The new retail project, Hanwha Galleria project, based in Seoul, converts and existing metro subway stations into two asymmetrical glass volumes resembling hourglass forms that will contain two landscaped plaza areas and its program. The dramatic design features structures sheathed in a double-skinned facade that can be programmed for nighttime projections.
Neil Hubbard, partner and group leader at Heatherwick studio, described the project “Traditionally, department stores are quite inward-facing, seeming closed off to the surrounding streets. But here we have a major intersection in Apgujeong with two buildings, east and west, which seemed like an opportunity to bring people together.
Combined with Hanwha’s ambition to bring more activity into the buildings, we wanted to provide a strong overall silhouette that would create a gateway, but also offer Seoulites new garden-like spaces to gather, shop and enjoy their city.”
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