A new entrant is set to grace the list of the world's top 10 tallest structures this year. Situated in Seoul and presently under construction, the Lotte World Tower, standing at an impressive 555 meters, aims to set new standards for skyscraper heights in South Korea. If the architectural visualization of the project is an accurate representation, Kohn Pedersen Fox's stylish and refined 'bullet-like' design will soon be a part of Seoul's skyline. As is the case with numerous modern multibillion dollar ventures, the inception of the Lotte World Tower was filled with controversy, requiring long years to become a reality.
As expected, the design team at Kohn Pedersen Fox went for a modern aesthetic, being inspired by a rich history of Korean artistry in ceramics, porcelain, and calligraphy. The tower's tapering curvature is sleek and imposing - even egotistical; and is a testament to a culture that holds perfection as one of its defining principles. At 123 stories, the building is set to bring together a retail, office, and 7-star hotel program. The building's top ten floors have been set aside for extensive public use and entertainment facilities and will feature a rooftop café and an observation deck.
The curtain walling system shines amongst all of the design team's maneuvers. Like two elongated shells, the building's skin separates slightly from the tower's shoot, extending way after the last floorplan. At its zenith, the now bisected crown is transformed into an apex of two seams that run alongside each other - paying tribute to the city's old center. The architectural edifice stands structurally sound thanks to a concrete core surrounded by 8 concrete super-columns, all resting on a concrete mat tied back to the core with steel outrigger trusses. Lateral loading is considered by belt trusses placed at every point of major programmatic transition. The pinnacle melts into the primary elements of the steel frame and gains a much-appreciated transparency.
The Lotte World Tower has ambitions to achieve LEED Gold Certification and echoes the Lotte Group's tenet for environmental sustainability. Several sustainable design strategies were employed, including photo-voltaic panels, wind turbines, external sun-shading devices, and rainwater harvesting systems. It is easy for super-skyscrapers to be imposing on their immediate context. Still, Kohn Pedersen Fox has come up with a subtle design to fit in a melee of an architecturally busy landscape. In as much as the tower might not be the most stellar in the list of the world's tallest buildings, it sets an important local precedent for South Korea to follow.
Here's also another south Korean project you might find intriguing, Bowl-Shaped River Culture Pavilion By Asymptote.
Project Information
Architect:
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Location:
Seoul, South Korea
Client: Lotte Group
Architect-of-Record: BAUM Architects
Structural: Leslie E. Robertson Associates, Chang Minwoo Structural Consultants, Thornton Tomasetti
MEP: SYSKA Hennessy Group
Cost: Rider Levett Bucknall
Other Consultants: CBRE, ALT Limited, Lerch Bates, Aon Fire Protection Engineering, Aon Global Risk Consulting, Fortune Shelper Consulting, RWDI
Main Contractor: LOTTE Engineering & Construction
Area: 505 300 sqm
Height: 555 m (123 stories)
Status: Under Construction
Photographs: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, Jean Chung
