The award-winning Korea Development Bank headquarters occupies a prominent site in Seoul, along Yeouido Park and near the country’s National Assembly building. The 1 million–square foot building houses extensive public, administrative, and executive office spaces, including three banking halls, a 15,000–square foot, state-of-the-art trading room, a 600-seat auditorium, a 750-seat dining hall (with separate executive dining facilities), and a 15,000–square foot library. The design concept captures the client’s desire to express a sense of permanence, as well as a progressive spirit representative of the bank’s role in the growth of the Korean economy. Architecturally, the building contains and continues the adjacent open space, while acknowledging the National Assembly building. By placing the banking hall at the corner, its unique shape creates a deflection toward the government building and puts the Bank’s public agenda forward in a direct manner. Beyond the banking hall are two wings of an office building, separated by a grand internal atrium. The “Bar” building, which serves as a backdrop to the elliptical banking hall and trapezoidal office wing, provides typical office area as well as the main building entry. The large, light-filled atrium space provides circulation between the three elements of the headquarters as well as gathering space for Bank and public events. The project also includes an underground connection to the subway system as well as a public plaza at street level. |
