DOMINIQUE PERRAULT, TWIN PEAKS
Inspired by the densely-knit, horizontal geography of the city of Seoul, nestled between Hangang River and numerous rocky peaks, Dominique Perrault won an international competition with a landscape architectural design featuring two peaks, as if it were an intermediate step between the high mountains and river waters.
Located in the Gangnam-gu district, the new complex was designed with the goal of allowing light to pass through and around it, creating a fluid connection between the central part of the neighbourhood with its small houses and the tall building itself.
This concept led to the creation of a park along the avenue, capable not only of providing various services for local people but also of offering an oasis of coolness and comfort, countering the effects of wind and sun exposure. The park, a central feature of the entire project, stretches along the building, creating landscaped terraces.
Roughly 200 meters tall, 'Twin Peaks' rises up like a geographical landmark on the south bank of the river. Despite the twin-like development of its two peaks, it is actually a single building, anchored to the ground by a wide base that connects the north and south sides of the neighbourhood.
The complex hosts a multifunctional program that includes a 5-star hotel, offices, shops, a spa, residential area and restaurant. The two peaks of Twin Peaks fan out along a diagonal axis that challenges the city's urban grid.
This twist has been calculated to capture light and offer panoramic views, while minimizing shadows cast over the surrounding buildings. The angled facades create a cascade of terraces, giving equal prominence to all the building’s functions.
With its stepped lines that, baroque-style, recall the elegance of New York’s Chrysler Building, Twin Peaks is a geographical landmark along the south bank of Seoul.
Client: Hyundai
E&C / WAD, Seoul; Lead architect : Dominique Perrault Architecte; Local
architect: ANU Architects; Interior design : Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost;
Design coordination: JAD
