UWS Headquarters

Located one block behind COEX in Samseong-dong, the UWS Headquarters is the first permanent home of an advanced IT company specializing in cloud computing, data services, blockchain, and related technologies, marking its transition from leased office space to a headquarters of its own.

Facing an intersection of 6-meter-wide one-way back streets to the northeast, the site is a long, narrow rectangle extending north to south. As it was formerly occupied by a house, the site measures only about 60 pyeong.

To accommodate a rapidly growing workforce comfortably and efficiently within this compact site, the building adopts a highly functional and straightforward floor plan. Each floor provides approximately 30 pyeong of space and accommodates at least twenty employees with generously sized desks. The core was therefore kept as compact and minimal as possible. To enhance comfort, privacy, and convenience in the workplace, two single-occupancy restrooms are provided on the stair landing of each floor.

The identity of the headquarters as a cutting-edge IT company is subtly expressed through folded silver-colored steel panels, evoking the appearance of computers and other digital devices. The building takes the form of a simple box without projections or recesses. This approach was intended to minimize common long-term building defects related to discontinuous insulation, waterproofing, and condensation. At the same time, simplifying construction reduced its complexity and helped minimize construction costs compared with buildings of a similar size.

To the south, neighboring buildings are set well back due to daylight regulations, providing favorable conditions for sunlight, natural light, and views toward the garden. In response, the entire southern façade is designed as a transparent curtain wall. At the northeast corner, a three-story-high transparent window addresses both the street intersection and the main entrance, responding directly to the conditions of the site.

The remaining individual windows are designed primarily to enable cross-ventilation. Rather than maximizing views or daylight, they respond to the nature of an office environment in which employees spend much of their time looking at computer monitors, providing appropriate illumination and a comfortable setting for concentration. Perforated metal panels are layered over the exterior, visually recessing these windows and further emphasizing the building as a simple, shimmering box while reinforcing its identity as the headquarters of an IT company.

Despite the compact site, the rooftop is designed as a roof garden for employees. A mechanical parking system provides more than twice the legally required number of parking spaces, along with a separate waiting area, maximizing convenience for the building’s users.