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Amorepacific Headquarters

architect: David Chipperfield Architects

location: Seoul, South Korea

year: 2017

The new headquarters for Amorepacific, Korea’s largest beauty company, is located in the centre of Seoul at a site which has been occupied by the company since 1956.
It is situated next to Yongsan Park and to the business district, which was part of a masterplan representing the largest high-rise development in Korea that substantially altered the urban fabric of the Yongsan district.
The form of the building is both abstract and gestural. Whilst the historic neighbourhood features a small scale architectural hierarchy with an inherent urban quality, the masterplan is clearly inspired by visions of the early modern movement, where solitary buildings define urbanity by forming a city of objects.
Buildings of this scale have a public responsibility that needs to be addressed by offering a public destination beyond formal appearance, a “place to be” where the dynamics of urban life can be enjoyed by all citizens of Seoul.
This philosophy manifests itself in an architectural concept that is dedicated to the integral approach of “form follows purpose”.