Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea

1308560582-7841808
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

The Architects from UN Studio designed this department store with multifunctional facilities for their client, Hanwha Galleria in Cheonan, South Korea. Quite amazing piece of modern architecture is not only visually interesting from outside but also has breathtaking interior. The building was finished and opened in December 2010, offering 66,700 m² of new public and commercial  space. Detailed brief about architecture from the architects: “The strategy for the building enclosure consists of creating an optical illusion. The facades feature two layers of customized aluminium extrusion profiles on top of a back layer of composite aluminium cladding. The vertical profiles of the top layer are straight; but those of the back layer are angled. This results in a wave-like appearance, which changes with the viewpoint of the spectator (Moiré effect). On the facade a gradual transition from exterior surface to the interior plateaus accentuates the internal organisation. The lighting design was developed in parallel with the architecture and capitalizes on the double layered facade structure. To achieve the large media surface with a minimum of lighting fixtures and light spill, the specially designed and custom produced fixtures are integrated within the mullions of the outer facade layer. Invisible from the outside, these fixtures project light back onto the inner clad facade layer, in-between the vertical mullions.. At the corners of the building the low resolution media walls fluidly turn into a high resolution zone, capable of displaying information with more detail. The interior of the Galleria Centercity derives its character from the accumulation of rounded plateaus on long columns. The repetition of curves, enhanced by coiled strip lighting in the ceilings of the platforms, gives the interior its distinctive character. This organisation has been made possible because of the complex spatial arrangement of the atrium. This central void is simple and straight in one cross- section, but oblique and jagged in the opposite cross-section. A relatively narrow central void cuts through the volume from top to base, with smaller pockets of space emanating from it.”

          -UN Studio Architects

1308560496-4081197
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1308560554-6111128
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1308560632-6966345
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1308560657-6202503
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1312536445-8331672
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1313051442-1436715
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

13085605541-2926556
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1308560564-1774749
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1308560640-5811841
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1308560650-7195962
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1313051437-6234453
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  UNStudio

1313051902-9337268
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1313052261-8415885
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1313052266-2284024
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  Christian Richters, Kim Yong-kwan

1308560714-6091581
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  UNStudio

1308560762-7251977
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  UNStudio

1313051405-7754100
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  UNStudio

1313051410-8551250
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  UNStudio

1313051416-8516166
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  UNStudio

1313051426-3906051
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  UNStudio

1313051432-5957597
Modern Architecture: Centercity Galleria by UN Studio, Cheonan, South Korea
©  UNStudio

Leave a Comment