Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
The Architects from UN Studio designed this department store with multifunctional facilities for their client, Hanwha Galleria in Cheonan, South Korea. Quite amazing piece of modern architecture is not only visually interesting from outside but also has breathtaking interior.
The building was finished and opened in December 2010, offering 66,700 m² of new public and commercial space.
Detailed brief about architecture from the architects:
"The strategy for the building enclosure consists of creating an optical illusion. The facades feature two layers of customized aluminium extrusion profiles on top of a back layer of composite aluminium cladding. The vertical profiles of the top layer are straight; but those of the back layer are angled. This results in a wave-like appearance, which changes with the viewpoint of the spectator (Moiré effect).
On the facade a gradual transition from exterior surface to the interior plateaus accentuates the internal organisation. The lighting design was developed in parallel with the architecture and capitalizes on the double layered facade structure. To achieve the large media surface with a minimum of lighting fixtures and light spill, the specially designed and custom produced fixtures are integrated within the mullions of the outer facade layer. Invisible from the outside, these fixtures project light back onto the inner clad facade layer, in-between the vertical mullions.. At the corners of the building the low resolution media walls fluidly turn into a high resolution zone, capable of displaying information with more detail.
The interior of the Galleria Centercity derives its character from the accumulation of rounded plateaus on long columns. The repetition of curves, enhanced by coiled strip lighting in the ceilings of the platforms, gives the interior its distinctive character. This organisation has been made possible because of the complex spatial arrangement of the atrium. This central void is simple and straight in one cross- section, but oblique and jagged in the opposite cross-section. A relatively narrow central void cuts through the volume from top to base, with smaller pockets of space emanating from it."
-UN Studio Architects
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © UNStudio |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © UNStudio |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © UNStudio |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © UNStudio |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © UNStudio |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © UNStudio |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © UNStudio |
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea © UNStudio |