At the request of the customer, in the construction of Tom Mayne's Morphosis bureau, 15% of its area of 76.3 thousand m2 was given to public spaces for active communication and interaction of employees; 55% are laboratories, the rest are offices.
The building houses R&D departments - research and development of new products. It appeared in the Magok district, which in the future should become the center of technology and light industry: the authorities of Seoul see it as a kind of "industrial ecosystem". The Kolon site with an area of two hectares is conveniently located: it is adjacent to the central park of Magoka. In the direction of this green zone, the building seems to "fold", shading the upper part of the lower floors. This complex volume links the three wings of the laboratories; it contains conference rooms and public spaces. The ground floor houses branded clothing stores and showrooms facing the street.
An important role in the interior is played by an atrium 40 m high and 100 m long with natural light. Also, its walls are decorated with more than 400 eight-meter panels showing different types of Kolon fabrics. A special part of the space is the Grand Staircase, inspired by the Spanish Steps in Rome.
Among the "green" components of the project is the main, western façade of the building. Its woven surface is reminiscent of the textile specialization of the client company. Its parametric modules take into account the need for both sun protection and preservation of views from the interior to the outside. They are made from a fiber-reinforced polymer made from Kolon's high-tech Aramid fabric. The building also features natural lighting and ventilation, green roofs and solar panels, recycled materials, and a geothermal system. During construction, it was possible to save 30% of concrete due to the use of lightweight bubble deck slabs.
