Gran Seoul Tower, South Korea

Seoul is renowned throughout the world for its unique fusion of traditional and modern architectural trends and styles, uniting glistening skyscrapers and endless high-rise buildings alongside historic Buddhist temples and bustling local marketplaces.

Completed in 2013, South Korean construction giant GS Group and one of Korea’s leading architectural design firms joined forces to create a grade-A, multipurpose commercial building that paid close attention to the preservation and improvement of this site’s historical specifics.

A rich tapestry of old and new

Situated on one of Seoul’s oldest streets, originally a hub for traditional arts and crafts, the site itself was a silk market dating back to the Joseon Dynsasty (1392-1897). With this in mind, the horizontal and vertical elements of the elevation take inspiration from the weft and warp yarns of the fabric it was once famed for.

Envisioning a central symbol of the present and the future, Chang-jo Architects preserved the cultural appeal of the site by restoring the ancient city pathway running through the site known as The Route of Pimat-Gil. Priceless artifacts excavated from the floor during construction also became unique features of this stunning construction project, displayed and protected behind large swathes of glass – working in harmony with the building’s exterior and interior aesthetics.

Super Spacer; rethinking the spatial experience whilst symbolizing Seoul’s pride

South Korean facades are built to last, and the Gran Seoul Tower is no different. Utilising approximately 40,000 sq. meters of double silver Low-E argon filled IG made with Super Spacer® TriSeal™, the impressive 24-storey Gran Seoul Tower combines office space, a world-class hotel, department store, major companies, finance enterprises, government offices, and banks all under one roof. Surrounded by historical and cultural facilities that symbolize Seoul’s pride, it was vital that the glass units were also as durable as possible to retain the historical importance of the site.

Award-winning sustainable design

Since its completion, The Gran Seoul Tower has been awarded the prestigious LEED Platinum Award by the U.S Green Building Council. This is the highest LEED certification possible, awarded to buildings that attain 80 points or more. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, which is based on a four-tiered credit-based rating system that awards points based on compliance with different aspects of sustainability.

For more information please visit www.edgetechig.co.uk