14 June 2022 · By Fran Williams. Photography by Kyung Roh
Source: Jason GarcÃa Noonan / RSHP
Source: Jason GarcÃa Noonan / RSHP
Source: Jason GarcÃa Noonan / RSHP
Parc 1, a US$1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) commercial complex featuring the largest shopping centre in Seoul, South Korea, has opened its doors, 16 years after its inception
It has been designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) with local co-architects Samoo Architects and Engineers and Siaplan Architects and Planners, in conjunction with Leonard Design Architects.
The 630,000m² development includes The Hyundai Seoul – the largest shopping centre in Korea as well as two office towers (one 318m-tall and the other 246m) and the luxury hotel, Fairmont Ambassador Seoul.
The 4.6ha site is located in Yeouido Island, one of the South Korean capital’s three designated central business districts. The scheme consists of four main components on a masterplan organised around views, existing city grain, pedestrian movement and massing.
Parc 1 was designed to create a new destination in Seoul that integrated public transport, retail, commercial and hotel accommodation to form a new urban hub. The buildings aim to make a hierarchy of public spaces, including tree-lined boulevards and plazas for public events.
The Hyundai retail space at Parc 1
The scheme accommodates 89,000m² of retail; two office towers, 270,000m² of lettable office space, a 326-room hotel with ballroom and a roof-top restaurant, a car park and basement with support facilities. This is all marked by a striking exterior, inspired by red columns symbolising dignity and refinement in traditional Korean architecture.
The interior architecture was designed by Leonard Design and aims to bring ‘the outside in’, creating a recognisable multi-level shopping experience, maximising natural light via a unique roof, inspired by Korea’s traditional heritage, with staggered voids that allow the light through each level.
Parc 1 also has a sustainability programme through its new city-wide transportation integration and public realm. The project includes adaptable column-free open-plan floor space to allow for future changes, while embodied carbon within the development has been minimised through an efficient composite steel/concrete structure. Operational energy is reduced through a fabric-first approach with high-performance façades and natural light maximised to reduce lighting loads and provide a good work environment.
These strategies sit alongside large public spaces, landscaping and green roofs. New direct connections to the metro system promote the use of public transport.
Parc 1 is the first building in Korea to be certified pre-Gold. It is rated Green 1 rating, the highest ranking grade under Korea’s G-SEED (Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design), managed by the South Korean government.
RHSP is currently designing many projects across Asia, including a new terminal for Shenzhen Bao’an Airport in China; Oriental One, a luxury residential development in Shanghai, China; Dream Campus II, an office development for young professionals and start-ups; and Terminal 3, Taoyuan Airport in Taiwan.
Richard Rogers, founder of the practice, died in December last year.
The Hyundai retail space at Parc 1
Sixteen years after its inception, Parc 1 is complete and has become a new city centre destination in Seoul. Its design is unique to Seoul’s skyline with an expressed structure in red. It has been fantastic to work in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Ivan Harbour, senior design partner, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Public space is one of the key design principles of our work. Much of the design at Parc 1 is dedicated to creating more public space on the surrounding streets and in the interior park that rises through the retail building. Steve Martin, associate partner and project architect, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
We are thrilled to see Parc 1 launch and that the integrity of the initial interior architecture is still in place. We wanted to create an experience for customers as soon as they walked in and we set out as a team to redefine the retailing experience. It is, therefore, testament to that team effort and thinking that Parc 1 still presents a fresh and unique experience, and we look forward to visiting. Ian Staples, director, Leonard Design Architects
To deliver a project of this magnitude requires close collaboration and a shared vision between all parties. The success of Parc 1 was in part driven by the diverse project team which brought together global design and technical expertise combined with a deep understanding of the local market. Ed Clark, director, Arup
Start on site 2007 Completion date July 2020 Gross internal floor area Site area: 46,465m², area above ground: 371,026m², area below ground: 258,021m² Total area 629,047m² Form of contract or procurement route Design/bid construction method Construction cost US$1.5 billion Construction cost per m2 US$2,385 Lead designer Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners Co-architects Samoo Architects and Engineers, Siaplan Architects and Planners Retail architect Leonard Design Architects Client Skylan Developments / Y22 Project Financing Investment Project total area 630,000m² M&E engineers Arup / DongYang Structural Engineers Co. Structural engineer Arup / HIMEC Consultants Landscape architect Martha Schwartz Partners Cost consultant David Langdon / Seah Korea Acoustic consultant ARUP Project manager Y22 Development Company
On-site energy generation 158.5 kWh/m²/yr Heating and hot water load 45.2 kWh/m²/yr (heating), 11.6 kWh/m² /yr (hot water load) Annual CO2 emissions 58.3 kg/m²/yr
Tags Hotel mixed use office design RSHP seoul Shopping centre South Korea
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