The sixth branch of Galleria, one of the
first and largest luxury store franchise in South Korea, in Gwanggyo, a new
town just south of Seoul, was designed by OMA, the world-famous architectural
office from Netherlands. Located at the center of this young urban development
surrounded by tall residential towers, the Galleria’s stone-like appearance
makes it a natural point of gravity for public life in Gwanggyo. The store is
located between the Suwon Gwanggyo Lake Park and ubiquitous buildings in the
city: An intersection between nature and the urban environment. The store has a
textured mosaic stone façade that evokes nature of the neighbouring park.
Appearing as a sculpted stone emerging from the ground, the store is a visual
anchor in the city. The public route has a multifaceted glass façade that
contrasts with the opacity of the stone. Through the glass, retail and cultural
activities inside are revealed to the city’s passers-by, while visitors in the
interior acquire new vantage points to experience Gwanggyo. Formed with a
sequence of cascading terraces, the public loop offers spaces for exhibitions
and performances. A place where retail and culture, city and nature collide,
Galleria in Gwanggyo offers a get away from the predictability of shopping.
CREDITS
Architectural Design: OMA
Client: Hanwha Galleria
Partner in Charge: Chris van Duijn
Project Coordinator: Patrizia Zobernig
Project Team: Mark Bavoso, Alan Lau, James Lee, Slobodan
Radoman, Tianyu Su, John Thurtle, Ikki Kondo, Daan Ooievaar, Nils Axen, Simon
Bastien, Tommaso Bernabo, Minjung Cho, Felicia Gambino, Nicola Ho, Meng Huang,
Zhenke Jin, Richard Leung, Ioana Pricop, Junsik Oh, Calvin Yue
Contractor: Hanwha Engineering&Construction corp.
Facade Consultant: VS-A Curtain
Wall Consultant: Withworks
Construction Area: 138.000 sqm
Project Location: Gwanggyo, South Korea
Building Date: 2020
Photographs: Hong Sung Jun / OMA
