UK architecture practice Heatherwick Studio has revealed plans to redesign the Hanwha Galleria shopping centre in Seoul by introducing volumes that resemble "rippled hourglasses".
Located on a major crossroad close to the city's Han River, the store's existing structures will be replaced with two near-identical volumes formed of curved glass.
The proposal is intended to "redefine the store's connection to the local area", according to Heatherwick Studio.
Heatherwick Studio is redesigning the Hanwha Galleria shopping centre in Seoul
Developed alongside local studio Haeahn Architecture and the local authorities, the distinct shape of the buildings is intended to frame views of the nearby river.
Both will each feature undulating glass facades that curve inwards towards their middles, supported by an exposed structural framework and used as backdrops for projections at night. They will be divided at ground level by the crossroad but connected below ground by an updated subway that will also provide access to the shopping centre.
Two near-identical structures are designed to resemble "rippled hourglasses"
Inside, the buildings will open up to light-filled entrances and landscaped plazas at ground level that are intended to enhance the area's public space.
There will also be open-air gardens hosted at the volumes' recessed middle levels, which will contain cafes, restaurants and shops, while rooftop gardens offer viewpoints of the city.

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