Hundreds of circular hole in Urban Hive at Seoul. This is the cube with combination of white openings. Which is located on corner of crossroad in Kang-nam Ave, is emptied and opened.

The simplicity of monolith is a gesture to hold an atmosphere of floating city. The combination of round holes, is not intended to express effectiveness of modeling. But an attempt as a mechanical settlement of structural walls. Which is exposed to outside on double skin.

Urban Hive – Design Structural Skin

When the perspective is relaxation of city’s tension with the lightness without massive concrete. And the softness without rigidity. The close-range view is a various expression of detail of roundness. which arouse from monotonous in city.

The way urban hive connects city and architecture. just a same process that connects architecture and human. The lobby and entrance is not established even the open space is settled. The access of each floor is directly linked to the city’s road.

Urban Hive Project Fact File:

Project : Urban Hive.

: Urban Hive. Architect : ARCHIUM

: ARCHIUM Architect In Charge : Kim In-cheurl

: Kim In-cheurl Location : 476, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

: 476, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Site Area : 1,000.97m2

: 1,000.97m2 Built Area : 584.78m2

: 584.78m2 Gross Floor Area : 10,166.89m2

: 10,166.89m2 Building Coverage : 58.43%

: 58.43% Floor Area Ratio : 798.69%

: 798.69% Floors : B4 + 17F

: B4 + 17F Height : 60 m

: 60 m Opened : 2009

: 2009 Design Period : June 2004 ~ April 2007

: June 2004 ~ April 2007 Construction Period : February 2006 ~ September 2009

: February 2006 ~ September 2009 Structure : Reinforced concrete (RC) + T-type Steel composite beam (TSC), Honeycomb Structure.

: Reinforced concrete (RC) + T-type Steel composite beam (TSC), Honeycomb Structure. Exterior Finish : Exposed concrete

: Exposed concrete Planning Period : June 2004 ~ April 2007

: June 2004 ~ April 2007 Construction Period : February 2006 ~ September 2009

: February 2006 ~ September 2009 Client : Urban Hive Inc.

: Urban Hive Inc. Year : 2008

: 2008 Structural Engineering : SEN Engineering Group.

: SEN Engineering Group. Data Management : MASIL

: MASIL Photographs : Park, Young-chae.

In architecture, a building’s structure and the skin has been treat as a separate subject.

The emplacement of new materials and advanced technologies has allowed the architects to design Structural Skin. which the surface of the building acts as the structure and vice versa.

Urban hive architecture:

Urban Hive is an example of the skin and structure unification in a building. Has been design to maximize the flexibility of the space by excluding structural elements. Other than the core, in the user’s’ space.

The colored-exposed concrete skin structure with void circles. These are design to lower the distinction between the columns, beams and the wall. The consistent spacing of the reinforce concrete. Thickness of 400mm and inner diameter of 1050mm, has been design to replicate the honeycomb structure.

This form of structure has excellence in safety towards the dead and live loads. as well as the natural disasters such as earthquakes. In addition, it adds an advantage for creating a flexible spacing.

This type of skin does not only act as the structure. but also contributes in formation of a dynamic space. and the punctured circular frames offer various views.

The space between the inner and outer glass curtain wall creates a shade. which has multiple functions. From the design perspective, it creates depth in the building. And makes it difficult for the viewers to differentiate the floor levels. Which then allows the facade to be view as one piece.

Circular Hole Facade Design:

As for the energy saving purposes, it blocks hot direct sunlight and cold wind. and forms convection current to lower the temperature of the heated glass.

A wall thickness of 400 millimeters and the regular spacing of the holes results in a robust. Yet flexible structure able to withstand the movement generated by earthquakes.

The homogenous pattern covers the entirety of the 17-storey box. making it difficult to discern the position of the different floors and giving the building a monolithic presence. The round holes also create a contrast with the right angles of the surrounding cityscape.

One corner of the facade is splice away to form a void leading to an underground parking area. while a hole at the opposite corner and a triangular opening mark the main entrances.

The gaps lead to a covered area between the facade. and the timber-clad core of the building, where doors open into a cafe. that fills most of the ground floor. Further entrances at the side provide access to staircases and lifts to the office floors.

These office levels feature glossy floors that show a pattern of light and shadow created by the holes in the facade. A gap between the inner and outer curtain wall helps to shade the interiors from the sun. And is wide along one side of the building to create a corridor with access to toilets and circulation facilities.

Urban hive Design:

A garden on the roof is surrounded by the upper extremities of the perforated walls. and incorporates a decked area with seating from. Which office workers and visitors can look out over the city.

The first basement level houses a retail space. That can be accessed via a subway, while three further underground floors contain service areas and car parking.

The colored-exposed concrete skin structure with void circles is designed to decrease the distinction between the columns, beams and the wall. The consistent spacing of the reinforced concrete, thickness of 400mm and inner diameter of 1050mm, has been designed to replicate the honeycomb structure.

This form of structure has excellence in safety towards the dead and live loads as well as the natural disasters such as earthquakes. In addition, it adds an advantage for creating a flexible spacing.

This type of skin does not only act as the structure, but also contributes in formation of a dynamic space; and the punctured circular frames offer various views.

Cube Housing Plans:

The space between the inner and outer glass curtain wall creates a shade, which has multiple functions.

From the design perspective, it creates depth in the building and makes it difficult for the viewers to differentiate the floor levels, which then allows the façade to be viewed as one piece.

Ref : plusmood, dezeen, en.wikipedia.org,

So, friends this is a basic and architectural exploitative building elements and how to do greatest benefit out of it.

Hope you people are enjoy it. 😉