Designed by D-Werker Architects, Unicity is the headquarters and research center of Carver Korea, a cosmetic business in South Korea. Carver Korea wants to make a splendid building design to show the recent growth of the company.
However, the condition of the site, located in Mapo, one of the old sections in Seoul, makes hard to design a building to be distinguished in urban scenery. Regarding the physical environment of the site, the significantly irregular shaped site locates behind buildings consisted of ordinary neighborhood living facilities. Briefly, the site is hardly visible in surroundings, especially from main streets of City. In addition, due to the legal limitations, the building can be put in only a small part of the site, and ground level has to be planned for parking lots. Hence, it was essential for us how to make the building have a standout image within these restrictions.
photography by © Inwoo Yeo
However, the condition of the site, located in Mapo, one of the old sections in Seoul, makes hard to design a building to be distinguished in urban scenery. Regarding the physical environment of the site, the significantly irregular shaped site locates behind buildings consisted of ordinary neighborhood living facilities. Briefly, the site is hardly visible in surroundings, especially from main streets of City. In addition, due to the legal limitations, the building can be put in only a small part of the site, and ground level has to be planned for parking lots. Hence, it was essential for us how to make the building have a standout image within these restrictions.
photography by © Inwoo Yeo
In terms of material, we used a pine board exposed concrete as the overall material which could show the framework of the building. In some ways, showing uncovered surface of concrete could be understood in the same context as revealing human skin without makeup. It was another strategy to make the identity of the building which reflects the characteristics of Carver Korea, mainly developing aesthetic products improving the essence of skin.
In the long run, morphological characteristics and space of Unicity will be a medium to acquire the identity of Carver Korea by giving visual excitement to people facing the ordinary urban scenery.
photography by © Inwoo Yeo
Project Info:
Architects: D-Werker Architects
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Architect in Charge: Jieun Lee, Hwon Yoon
Photography: Inwoo Yeo
Project Year: 2017
Project Name: Unicity
