Swiss architecture studio Herzog & de Meuron has released more photos of its ST/SongEun Building, a wedge-shaped art institute that is now open in Seoul, South Korea.
The pointed concrete structure, which is located in the Chung Dam District, is Herzog & de Meuron's first realised project in South Korea.
The ST/SongEun Building by Herzog & de Meuron has opened in Seoul
The ST/SongEun Building contains art studios and exhibition spaces for the SongEun Art and Cultural Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports local artists.
It is hoped to become a cultural landmark for the capital city and help with the international exposure of contemporary South Korean artists.
It has a monolithic concrete exterior
The ST/SongEun Building is distinguished by its dramatic wedge-shaped form and textured concrete surfaces that feature both internally and externally. According to the studio, its form responds to the scale of surrounding low-lying buildings, as well as a local zoning law that "allows for higher density towards the main street".
Concrete is also used inside the building
The external concrete walls are decorated with a checkerboard of wood grains, which was achieved by rotating the position of the wooden panels used in the formwork.
The decision to imprint the concrete with wood grains is a nod to the name of the building and organisation behind it, which translates as "hidden pine tree".
A ramp leads to underground living spaces
Inside, ...