Asymptote Architecture have recently revealed images of ‘Velo Tower’ development, a residential complex that is located in the Yongsan International Business District, Seoul, Korea. Yongsan is geographically situated in the center of Seoul, South Korea, with an area of 21.87 sq km (8.44 sq mi), a population of 227,400 and a density of 10,000/sq km (27,000/sq mi).
courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
Many websites and architectural blogs have discussed the singularity of this tower in form in comparison with many other proposals, except that of BIG — a pair of towers, that are very similar, not in form, but conceptually. May be because these the treatment of BIG‘s and Asymptote‘s designs require specific solutions, which is apparently different than the other proposals of SOM, Dominique Perrault Architecture, Tange Associates, Kohn Pedersen Fox associates, and REX, .
The pair of Asymptote skyscrapers are composed of stacked and rotated volumes which are a programmatic counterpoint to the conventional tall building typology. Velo Towers offer an interesting alternative to typical skyscraper designs, resembling rotating parts on a machine. Both the interior residential units and external facades have been designed to be built using prefabricated parts. The skybridge, which is located 30 stories above ground, will contain common amenities, including fitness and recreation facilities, lounges, and a landscaped garden. by breaking down the scale and massing of the two high-rises into interconnected circular dimensions, the project proposes an alternative architectural and urbanistic response to the traditional repetitions of the cityscape.
courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
“By breaking down the scale and massing of the two distinct towers into interconnected circular and oblong volumes, the Velo project proposes an alternative architectural and urbanistic response to the repetitive and monolithic austerity of conventional tower design,” explains Asymptote Architecture. “The recombination of the typical tower form into a new horizontal and vertical configuration enables the formation of a socially engaging and dynamic environmental response.”
courtesy of © Asymptote Architecture
