S I T E M A P
Gwacheon, Korea
Urban Hub
Gwacheon, Korea
Urban Hub
Design
- Introduction
- The Gwacheon Urban Hub was envisioned as an architectural space that offers new everyday experiences to users, while serving as a center for work, relaxation, and urban hub of Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town. The main project theme, "URBAN HUB," was proposed during the design competition phase. This theme represents a vision of knowledge industrial hub for knowledge-economic based companies. In response, Heerim proposed architectural ideas. First, the "Citizen-Participatory Open Ground" is a sunken public space that serves as a stage for community activities open to Gwacheon citizens. Second, the 'Human-Centered Community Band' is a shared zone wrapping around the sunken, strategically placed to foster communication and collaboration among tenant companies. Rooftop 'Creative Loop' was designed not just as a landscaped area, but as a place of rest and interaction that offers architectural experiences and a variety of sequential programs, capturing both the diverse urban landscape and natural surroundings. This completes the concept of "URBAN HUB" which expands the space of communication and provides new experiences. This concept is further reinforced by the dynamic horizontal continuity of the façade, which captures the diverse rhythms of the building’s internal life. From the design proposal phase, the project involved active engagement with 14 prospective tenant companies through numerous briefing sessions. These interactions were a new and valuable experience, bridging idealism and reality to a shared vision of co-working headquarters for small and medium-sized companies. The process of finding bold and innovative compromises that addressed budget constraints and the unique nature of the competition from the very beginning has become a cherished memory, which will resonate for a long time to come.
