Attitudes Toward Sustainable Middle Architecture: UWS Headquarter Building

SPACE January 2025 (No. 686) 

Attitudes Toward Sustainable Middle Architecture^▼1: UWS Headquarter Building

The UWS Headquarter Building is situated on a backstreet west of COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, where commuter foot traffic exceeds that of its resident population. The 60-pyeong (approximately 200m2) residential plot, previously occupied by a detached house until four years ago, sits at the intersection of internal streets, within a prototypical mega block in Gangnam. This block, measuring approximately 600 × 700m, is bordered by Yeongdong-daero to the east (70m-width), Teheran-ro to the south (50m-width), Samseong-ro to the west (35m-width), and Bongeunsa-ro to the north (35m-width).

Gangnam’s urban development began in earnest in the early 1970s to address the housing demands of Seoul’s rapidly growing population. At the time, only two bridges – Hannam Bridge and Yeongdong Bridge – connected Gangnam and Gangbuk. Gangnam’s massive urban blocks emerged from grids carved between these axes, encompassing irregular internal roads shaped by the hilly terrain. This land reorganisation initiative gave rise to thousands of single-house plots. The resulting urban fabric contrasts sharply between the opulent urban masses along arterial streets and the modest interiors of the blocks. Rapid industrialisation and economic growth further transformed Gangnam through successive redevelopments – from single-family houses to multi-family residences, neighbourhood commercial buildings, and high-density apartments – steadily increasing urban density. 

This evolution was paralleled by the rise of commercial facilities over the years. Today, the floor area ratio of commercial buildings in Seoul is remarkably high, even when compared to other major global cities. This includes not only large department stores and shopping malls but also the dense network of small businesses lining secondary streets. Particularly since the 2000s, as residential areas have increasingly been replaced by neighbourhood living facilities, these establishments have filled secondary streets, adding to the urban landscape’s sense of chaos while simultaneously contributing to the emergence of distinct urban locales such as Garosu-gil and Seorae Village.

Statistics reveal that over 80% of buildings in Seoul are below seven stories and that general residential zones occupy more than half of the city’s area. This underscores the ubiquity of neighbourhood living facilities as a dominant architectural typology. While these structures often serve as experimental grounds for creative young architects of small ateliers, they are also subject to economic pressures for maximum rentable area and design restrictions due to daylight and sky exposure plane regulations.^▼2 These constraints have sometimes resulted in disjointed and discordant designs, a recurring subject of critique since the early 1990s.^▼3 The 2016 Venice Biennale Korean Pavilion exhibition, ‘The FAR Game’, revisited these architectural and urban phenomena, providing a platform to examine the fabric of Korean contemporary architecture and its identity.

The UWS Headquarter Building seeks to explore a new urban approach within this complex context. The initial design proposal that the client showed to me resembled the typical forms and typologies of neighbourhood living facilities in Gangnam. Like many of its neighbours, the plan featured a piloti parking area on the ground floor, which compromised the ground-level façade, and a six-storey mass that, compared to its scale, exhibited excessive segmentation and articulation. During the redesign process, instead of adhering to the chaotic surroundings, the aim was to create a universal and sustainable architectural typology, contributing meaningfully to the cityscape.

The first objective was to establish a ‘building that forms a sustainable urban context’. Rather than conforming to the chaotic, conflicting, and disordered surroundings of the site, the decision was made to establish a new paradigm rooted in fostering a high standard of universality that supports daily life. Drawing inspiration from the calm and stability found in historic global cities, the project maximised building coverage and floor area ratios while maintaining the formal integrity of the building mass. Slab openings were concealed within the interiors to reduce apparent floor area, and sloping masses resulting from daylight regulations were avoided by employing materials with transparency. The external materials were restrained in colour and tone, and excessive sculptural elements were excluded to provide a sense of stability to the streetscape.

The second goal was to ‘contribute to the streetscape and pedestrian environment’. Positioned at a busy intersection in Samseong-dong’s secondary streets, the building provides small spaces for rest and interaction. The client was persuaded to replace the piloti parking area with a mechanical underground parking system at the second basement level, while the ground floor was designated for small rental spaces for corner shops or cafés to activate the pedestrian zone. These spaces can be flexibly expanded to the basement level, or the first or second floors for integrated use. The design maximised allowable canopy areas, offering shelter for entrances, signage, and pedestrians during inclement weather. The northeast corner of the building façade opens up to the third floor, revealing commercial activity inside and fostering interaction with passersby. Additionally, a small piloti space adjacent to the main entrance allows for a small patio space or easy passage.

Diagram​

Lastly, the design prioritises maximising the client’s interests. Reflecting the identity of the client’s IT company, the building evokes the minimalist elegance of Apple’s products, characterised by its smooth metallic surfaces that convey its brand identity without the need for signage or promotional LED panels. Precision-engineered folded metal panels, with concealed joints and zero material wastage, create a seamless façade, presenting the illusion of a single material piece enveloping each floor. Robust materials used for flashing and the ground-floor canopy ensure exceptional flatness and durability, reducing maintenance needs while preserving the building’s aesthetic and functional integrity. The interior layout embraces versatility, with workstations configured in repeatable modules and flexible alcoves for conference rooms and executive offices. Advanced mechanical systems and fire protection systems allow for a ceiling height of 3.37m at a floor height of 3.6m. A south-facing curtain wall optimises natural lighting, minimising energy use, while operable 

cross-ventilation windows enhance air circulation on every floor. Pipe shafts are fitted with sprinklers and lighting, making them usable for ancillary purposes, and painted steel panels in the core wall serve as magnetic notice boards. The rooftop, designed with low-maintenance landscaping and floating deck systems, eliminates drainage issues and creates a level, inviting space for events and relaxation. All the design solutions of this UWS Headquarter Building have been reached with its owner in mind.

The UWS Headquarter Building embodies calmness and sustainability amidst the chaos of its urban context. It is not merely a structure maximising economic benefits but a thoughtful addition to the urban fabric, supporting users and the city through universality and stability. In a modern cityscape that values individuality and diversity, the building offers a balanced and inclusive vision, paving the way for the new contextual evolution of urban architecture.​ 

1   Middle architecture is a term first used by Sung Hong Kim (professor, University of Seoul) in his book Street Corner Architecture (2011), referring to neighbourhood living facilities commonly found in residential areas of Seoul, which constitute the city’s largest region. He argued that this middle architecture is a crucial element that can transform the urban fabric and should be a focus for architects.

2   The restriction due to sky exposure plane regulation was abolished on the 18th of May, 2015.

3   The ‘Silence & Chitchat’ project by Kim Hyekyung (Hongik University), which won the grand prize at the 10th Space Prize for International Students of Architecture Design in 1992, revealed such an awareness and drew significant appreciation from judges including Min Hyunsik and Seung H-Sang.​