UN Studio is a fascinating, international Dutch Architectural firm that practices “architecture, interior architecture, product design, urban development and infrastructural projects” (UN Studio, About not date). UN Studio attempts to resolve increasing “societal challenges of urbanization, climate change, ageing populations and socioeconomic inequality” on each project that requires sustainability, technology, and human scale (UN Studio, About no date). UN Studio epitomized one holistic structure, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling, utilizing its architectural problem-solving abilities to exemplify its masterpiece to inspire a new era of global architecture movement to come (UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling no date).
Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling
UN Studio endeavoured holistic, innovative remodelling of the Hanwha Headquarters’ façade, interiors, and landscaping by addressing three sustainable dimensions: ecology, economy, and society (UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling no date, & Hanwha, no date). UN Studio is concerned about its client, Hanwha, representing the headquarters’ world-renowned solar panel production that symbolizes sustainability (Block, 2020, Hanwha, no date, Harrouk, 2020, & Iype, 2020). That is why the remodelling selected mainly solar panels and other construction methods of the 57696 m2 structure, which gives ample opportunity for UN Studio to maintain its client’s status quo (Block, 2020, Hanwha, no date, Harrouk, 2020, & Iype, 2020). The Hanwha Headquarters’ “environmental surroundings,” like the heart of Cheonggyecheon, play a crucial role in the remodelling of the building itself (Harrouck, 2020, & Iype, 2020). More details explain why the holistic approach works in the UN Studio’s philosophy of creativity, flexibility, and adaptability (UN Studio, About no date).
Hanwha Façade Architecture
As seen in Figure 1, The Hanwha Headquarters’ façade before UN Studio consists of “opaque panelling and a single layer of dark glass,” where remodelling is more sustainable to let the headquarters remain operational than demolishing it (UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling n.d. & Hanwha, no date). UN Studio remodelled the headquarters’ structure with “clear insulated glass and aluminum framing” for better “views and daylight” for better “views and daylight” onto the interiors for natural lighting and outdoor “angular solar panels” to receive “most daylight” along the facade (Block, 2020, UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling no date, & Hanwha, no date). The North Façade faces sunlight receives the most, but the southern façade is opaquer to avoid the heavy “heat load of the building” ((UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling n.d.,). UN Studio includes the remodelled façade to provide natural lighting and intricate design for the interiors’ community spaces and private space (UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling no date, & Hanwha, no date).
Furthermore, the morphology of the façade is at first intricate façade with an unusual pattern in interaction with different rooms “such as the restaurant, the executive rooms, the sky gardens, the seminar spaces.” (UN Studio, n.d, & as, 2020) The façade seems to replace the old, repressed model without a monotonous pattern that does not bring “life” to the interiors without any “opening” for each “programme” (Block, 2020). As shown in figure 2 for the overall design, UN Studio designates optimal design of the building for all the façade onto the heart of interiors to give sustainable life, not mechanics, to the company (UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling no date, & Hanwha, no date).
Hanwha Photovoltaic (PV) Cells
As Shown in Figure 3, the most important factors are the PV Cells (Solar) in the Headquarters’ façade (UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling no date). Most PV cells are at the south façade for taking the “most direct sunlight” (UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling n.d. Figure 3). UN Studio provided a simple, affective design goal with complex, energy-saving architecture. Furthermore, the energy usage and the usage of parametric design (not to confuse with the generative design technology, which contains artificial intelligence for the lack of architectural control) at a faster pace with technologies and the complex façade of the building on computer modelling of PV cells. The structure and its face have produced 800 KWH/m2 annually, reducing consumption from 401.5kwh/m2 to 242.2kwh/m2 before finishing the remodelling. UN Studio achieves the sustainable goal in both environmental and economic aspects of Hanwha (Hanwha, no date). These overall detailed factors of PV technology with technology and innovative sustainability can affect the philosophy and reality of the overall architecture for the workers and people.
Landscaping & Interiors
The structure’s location is at the heart of Cheonggyecheon in Seoul, giving the opportunity for UN Studio to bid for future landscaping and interior design (Iype, 2020). Harrouk (2020) explained the significant rooms like “the interior of the common spaces, lobbies, meeting levels, auditorium and executive areas, and the landscaping.” UN Studio begun with landscaping with a fluid, guiding labyrinth with “multifunctional planters” that smoothly transition into the northern and southern entrance high-ceiling lobbies (Iype, 2020, & UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling n.d, see figure 4 and 5). Then, UN Studio designed the entrances to increase the daylight and connection to the building and the landscape (Iype, 2020).
The list of exemplar elements of the interior design of the building varies to create boundaries and transparencies in each room (Iype, 2020, & UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling n.d). For example, the hallways and the common areas have varying transparency in privacy and indicators(Iype, 2020). For the overall picture in figure 7, UN Studio emphasizes private and “collective space” friendly to employees of this headquarters (Iype, 2020, & UN Studio, Hanwha Headquarters Remodelling n.d). Both Landscaping and Interior Design add extra varieties regarding private and public spaces that can give freedom and choices to employees and executives to dwell in the place with social benefit for Hanwha (Hanwha, no date)
Conclusion about Overall Design Philosophy
UN Studio, renowned for its deep design philosophy, has exemplified a new concept and details of reaching Hanwha’s highly sustainable goals (Hanwha, no date). UN Studio has to become fluent in technology, environment, and society that will survive and change the course of architectural history with distinctiveness (UN Studio, About not date). Unlike other architectural studios, UN Studio stands out in its mark comprehensive solutions for each new idea, like the remodelling features, to achieve the main objectives. UN Studio harnesses new capabilities to provide hope for every client’s needs, even amid the chaotic architectural world.
Bibliography
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