The Hanwha headquarters building gets a facelift designed by UNStudio. The brief for the renovation wants a renovation and remodeling of the façade,the interior common spaces, the lobbies, auditoriums and executive areas as well as the exterior landscaping.
The response by the world-acclaimed studio was to use the façade as a central element in their proposal.As a result, a responsive façade was proposed that reflects key functional roles of the interior spaces. The old façade was made of horizontal bands of opaque paneling and single layers of dark glass. With the new façade, the studio used clear insulated glass and aluminium framing to allow for natural lighting and magnificient views. The overall geometry of the framing is dictated by the orientation of the sun in order to increase interior comfort.
Courtesy of UNStudio
Varying the panels of the framing, the architects are able to maximize comfort,sun light gain and energy consumption. For instance, the northern façade opens to welcome natural lighting while the southern façade is more opaque to allow for protection against heat load. Openings also vary in function of the desired views.
In order to make use of solar energy, the south façade opaque panels are dotted with PV cells . Lastly, the façade is animated with LED pixels which bring in an amount of dynamism. The landscaping is designed in such a way as to allow a dynamic flow from the lobbies to the exterior ,inviting visitors to experience the interiors.
Courtesy of UNStudio
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.