KPF Announces Design for Block H of Seoul’s Yongsan International Business District

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) recently presented the firm’s design for Block H of Seoul’s new Yongsan International Business District (YIBD) in Seoul. At 1264 feet (385 meters), the tower sets the standard for new design and construction innovations in the YIBD, a new business district emerging off the north shore of Seoul’s Han River. Reflective of Seoul’s transformation from an industrial powerhouse to one that drives technological progress and is more friendly to sustainable business and living, Block H will incorporate more natural building angles and a plan that will capitalize on Korea’s abundant sunshine.

The Plan for the 1.8 million square feet (167,225 square meters) Block H includes a hotel and residential tower with a massive basement will have room for retail and a spa. But instead of the traditional tower structure, KPF designed Block H to mimic the organic growth of a crystal. Three asymmetric wings branch out from the building’s base and reach out towards both light and views of the river.
The result is that the tower’s hotel rooms and apartments will boast ample natural light with views of the Han River, nearby Yongsan Park and the view of Seoul’s iconic Namsan Mountain. All spaces will wow visitors with incredible corner views while offering residents and guests maximum privacy. Meanwhile rooftop gardens and trees will offer much needed greenery and shade in this city of 10 million, and sections of the tower will mirror Korea’s mountainous countryside with natural woods and slabs of stone. Along with much of the YIBD, Block H is scheduled for completion in 2016. KPF’s vision is another reason why Seoul is a global hub for daring, cutting-edge architecture. Watch for YIBD to rival other business districts in Seoul, including KOEX, Kangnam and the old downtown area around City Hall and Seoul Station.

http://www.kpf.com

Tokyo’s New Sky Tree is the World’s Tallest Tower

The sky-scraping 2,080 foot Tokyo Sky Tree recently opened in Japan on the site of a former freight shunting yard on the Sumida River. The lofty needle tops the communications building, which is now the world’s tallest tower. The tower was completed just a few months after its deadline, due to a shortage of resources caused by last year’s Fukushima Nuclear disaster.

Located on the east side of Tokyo in the Asakusa traditional district, the Tokyo Sky Tree rises in gleaming silver, dwarfing the city blocks around it. The communication tower is the lone skyscraper in the neighborhood, so it soars above the surrounding structures – it even trumps Toronto’s CN Tower by 265 feet.
Tokyo tourism hopes that the Sky Tree tower attracts tourists like the CN Tower does, as tourism has dwindled since the Fukushima disaster. It’s a likely prospect, since the height of the tower is only eclipsed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

The tower itself cost $806 million, not including the communications structures inside, and it took 580,000 workers to construct. The tower is linked in with a Tobu Railway hub, enabling visitors to reach the tower from any point of the city. Visitors can enjoy sprawling views of Tokyo at observation decks at 1,148 feet and 1, 476 feet. Inside, the tower will also offer an array of restaurants, office space and other shops.