The Galleria, South Korea’s oldest department store franchise, has recently opened a new store in one of the country’s newest towns, Gwanggyo.
The building, Galleria’s sixth branch, has a very unique design to say the least. The facade combines multifaceted glass that appears to be breaking out from within opaque stone, as if the building was shedding its old skin and revealing the new.
See Also: Cathedral design is inspired by a Bishop’s headpiece
Appearing as sculpted stone emerging from the ground, the store is meant as a visual anchor in the city. A public route is excavated from the stone volume and connects the public sidewalk to a roof garden that includes retail and cultural activities. The glass, meanwhile, reveals the retail and cultural activities happening inside to passers-by. For those inside, the glass creates new vantage points to experience Gwanggyo. The public loop is formed with a sequence of cascading terraces and offers spaces for exhibitions and performances.
Eight unique departments are spread across the building’s 12 floors:
Floor one - Boutique & Jewelry
Floor two - Prestige Boutique
Floor three and four - Women’s Fashion
Floor five - Men’s Fashion
Floor six - Kids & Family + Mega Shop
Floor seven and eight - Sport & Leisure, Home & Living
Floor nine - Dining
Floor ten and eleven - Cinema
Floor 12 - Lounge & Academy
The project, which has been completed, was led by OMA partner Chris van Duijn.
Related Stories
Resiliency | Jun 24, 2021
Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]
New on HorizonTV, oceanographer John Englander discusses his latest book, which warns that, regardless of resilience efforts, sea levels will rise by meters in the coming decades. Adaptation, he says, is the key to future building design and construction.
Digital Twin | May 24, 2021
Digital twin’s value propositions for the built environment, explained
Ernst & Young’s white paper makes its cases for the technology’s myriad benefits.
Retail Centers | Mar 18, 2021
The Weekly Show, March 18, 2021: The future of gas stations, and HOK's Bill Hellmuth on navigating challenging markets
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors speak with AEC industry leaders about the future of gas stations as places that go beyond fueling, and AEC firm leadership lessons from HOK's Bill Hellmuth.
Sustainability | Mar 9, 2021
First-of-its-kind Starbucks built in just six days
The store is set to open in Canada in mid-March.
Retail Centers | Mar 2, 2021
Retail expectations vs reality in 2021
The reality of retail success in 2021 is proving to be based on a formula of mixing digital with the physical in pursuit of convenience.
Market Data | Feb 24, 2021
2021 won’t be a growth year for construction spending, says latest JLL forecast
Predicts second-half improvement toward normalization next year.
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 18, 2021
The Weekly show, Feb 18, 2021: What patients want from healthcare facilities, and Post-COVID retail trends
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors speak with AEC industry leaders from JLL and Landini Associates about what patients want from healthcare facilities, based on JLL's recent survey of 4,015 patients, and making online sales work for a retail sector recovery.
Reconstruction Awards | Jan 30, 2021
Repositioning of historic Sears Roebuck warehouse enlivens Boston’s Fenway neighborhood
Developer Samuels & Associates asked Elkus Manfredi Architects to reimagine the former Sears Roebuck & Co. warehouse in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood as a dynamic mixed-use destination that complements the high-energy Fenway neighborhood while honoring the building’s historical significance.
Reconstruction Awards | Dec 29, 2020
The reenvisioned Sazerac House: A delectable cocktail that's just perfect for the Big Easy
The 51,987-sf Sazerac House is an interactive cocktail museum, active distillery, corporate headquarters, and event venue, all under one roof, next to the historic French Quarter of New Orleans.