OMA has completed the Department Store Galleria in Gwanggyo, south of Seoul.
Located between the Suwon Gwanggyo Lake Park and the tall residential towers of the city, the project is “an intersection between nature and the urban environment”.
The building echoes the nature of its neighbouring Park, with its sculpted textured mosaic stone facade.
“With a public loop deliberately designed for cultural offerings, Galleria in Gwanggyo is a place where visitors engage with architecture and culture as they shop. They leave with a unique retail experience blended with pleasant surprises after each visit.”, OMA says.
The Gwanggyo store puts in place a public route, excavated from the stone volume, connecting the public sidewalk to a roof garden.
The public route is covered by a multifaceted glass facade, revealing to the passers-by, the retail and cultural activities happening within the building. As visitors walk along it, they will encounter retail spaces and cultural activities like exhibitions and performances that form a “Public Loop”. The glass addition offers new vantage points to experience Gwanggyo.
Photo by © Hong Sung Jun
https://www.archdaily.com/936285/oma-completes-the-galleria-department-store-in-gwanggyo-south-korea/5e7b39cdb35765c37900012b-oma-completes-the-galleria-department-store-in-gwanggyo-south-korea-photo