Heatherwick Studio Unveils Rippled Hourglass Design For Seoul’s Hanwha Galleria

Heatherwick Studio unveils a rippled hourglass-shaped design for Hanwha Galleria, the famed shopping center in Seoul. The proposed design features two symmetrical crystalline buildings with illuminated atria and plant-filled rooftops. Their undulating glass facades create a soft, glistening effect during the day. This design emerged from a competition aimed at reimagining six sites in the South Korean capital. The brief called for a concept that would challenge conventional notions of luxury department stores and affirm South Korea’s growing influence as a global cultural powerhouse. The project also follows the recent announcement of the appointment of Thomas Heatherwick, the studio’s founder, as General Director of the fifth edition of the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, to be held in 2025. Read more at DesignBoom.