GT Tower East

In Seoul, South Korea, the remarkable office tower GT Tower East, has been inaugurated. Designed by the Dutch architectural firm ArchitectenConsort, based in Rotterdam, GT Tower East will form an architectural unit with the GT Tower West, yet to be built. With its elegantly undulating glass facade, the new high-rise brings a fascinating change to the angular architecture of the Korean capital.

GT Tower East

The form and positioning of the 130-metre-high building are the impressive result of the vision of architects Peter Couwenbergh and Edgar Bosman of ArchitectenConsort. They chose a uniform, glass finish for the facade, which has resulted in an organically pure form. The undulating motion of the facades provides an optically changing primary form when passing the building. Combined with the reflection of the light in the glass, this gives the building a special, iconic appearance. The dynamic appearance of GT Tower East is reinforced by the sight of the building, that seems to be dropping down below street level.

GT Tower East

The architects achieved the high adaptive capacity of GT Tower East by placing the compact core at the heart of the floor plan and using a carefully thought-out column structure. These measures ensure that the facade remains entirely unencumbered, and large floor spaces are created that allow the building to accommodate a variety of uses in the future. Many sustainability measures were integrated into the design, including a well-insulated facade, the installation of solar panels for generating power, and a lot of natural light and ventilation to create a pleasant working environment.

GT Tower East, Interior

Study of glass facade with wave motion. The Rotterdam architects carried out an extensive preliminary investigation into the construction of the glass facade and the wave motion effect. This shift occurs two-and-a-half times over the total height of the building, so that each wave has a height of 48 metres. So as not to break up the vertical lines of the facade by interrupting horizontal segmentation, the architects compressed the ceilings towards the outer facade to the size of a window frame. The pattern and dimensioning chosen for the black vertical window frames ensures a subtle balance with the semi-reflective blue glass panels. The window frames also accentuate the form, emphasizing the infinite upward movement.

GT Tower East, Interior

Entry area and interior. In contrast with the surrounding buildings, the GT Tower East has been offset from the building line. In this way, the designers managed to create a new urban space, which is utilised below street level for the construction of an attractive, submerged outdoor area. The design of ArchitectenConsort is also recognisable in the interior. The central lobby and the commercial lobby each have their own individual character, but are unmistakably connected. In the interior, light plays an important role, not just as a light source, but also as a decorative element.

Type            : Commercial - Office

Location      : Seoul
                       Korea, Republic of

A project by: ArchitectenConsort

                      Architecture