Mecanoo

Namdeamun Office Building

Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin
Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin

NAMDEAMUN OFFICE BUILDING

Mecanoo

ARCHITECTS
Mecanoo

FACADE CONSULTANT
Excfirm

CLIENT
Heungkuk Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Kyungsub Shin

AREA
5900 m²

YEAR
2017

LOCATION
Seoul, South Korea

CATEGORY
Office Buildings

Text description provided by architect.

Located next to the ancient southern gate to the city of Seoul, the Namdeamun Market is the oldest and largest market in South Korea.

Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin
Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin

Since its beginnings as a government managed marketplace in 1414, it has become an important 24-hour destination for trade and a popular tourist attraction.

The market’s history and regional traditions informed the design for a contemporary office building, connecting past and present.

Maximising the land allocation, the slim 14-floor building sits elegantly on a corner plot opposite the market.

Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin
Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin
Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin

Its restrained monochromatic appearance acts as a counterbalance to the colourful frenzy of the market’s nonstop activity.

The role of the facades frames extends beyond decoration.

Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin
Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin

It continuously creates different atmospheres, filtering incoming light and making shadows across the interior spaces.

The relationship between the building and its surroundings reflects the passing of time, changing from day to night.

During the day the facade material reflects the sun light, whereas in the night, the building glows from within, revealing its characteristic facade pattern to the market and beyond.

Namdeamun Office Building
© Kyungsub Shin


Namdeamun Office Building
Axonometric

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