Hyundai Motor Group reported on the 19th that it plans to create a large urban forest-style public green space within its new headquarters, the Global Business Complex (GBC), being developed in Samseong-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul.
Hyundai Motor Group has previously submitted a proposal for the revised GBC development plan to the city of Seoul last month.
The newly revised GBC will consist of three towers with the same height of 242 meters, 54 stories each, along with two low-rise buildings for exhibition halls and performance venues, featuring a large-scale green space open to the public at the center of the complex.
It moves away from the existing height and facade-centered landmark design style, reflecting recent urban development trends that emphasize a harmonious skyline with the surrounding area and flexible horizontal spatial arrangement.
In particular, unlike typical green spaces that merely exist as adjuncts to buildings, the design has prioritized the green space from the planning stage, incorporating harmony with greenery and local connections into the building arrangement.
The size of the green space to be created at the GBC will reach 14,000 square meters (㎡), which is the largest among privately developed mixed-use complexes in the country, equivalent to twice the area of a soccer field.
The green space at GBC is adjacent to the Gangnam District Integrated Transfer Center (GITC) plaza. Thus, a citizen sharing space twice the size of Seoul Plaza will also be secured in the Gangnam city center. Additionally, it will serve as a hub in the pedestrian network within the international exchange complex linking COEX, GITC, GBC, the Tancheon, Jamsil MICE, and the Han River.
A representative of Hyundai Motor Group noted, "The green space has a significant effect on improving the quality of life for citizens by reducing carbon emissions, alleviating urban heat island effects, diminishing fine dust, and mitigating traffic and noise pollution," and expressed hope that it would contribute significantly to revitalizing the local economy by increasing the influx of various populations, including nearby residents, tourists, and GBC visitors.
The main structure of GBC, the tower, will be optimized in terms of vertical movement flow and spatial efficiency, consisting of three buildings positioned staggeringly at the back of the complex to secure visual openness.
The tower will be used as a high-tech office facility where eco-friendly technologies like renewable energy and carbon emission reduction are integrated with future mobility technologies such as autonomous driving, robotics, Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV), and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). Cutting-edge technologies such as big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things will also be applied.
Hyundai Motor Group plans to utilize the GBC as a testbed for future new businesses and as a mobility innovation cluster that generates synergy by collaborating with global corporations, specialist consultants, and startups.
In addition to office facilities, the GBC will include an observation deck with a panoramic view of major attractions in the Gangnam area, such as the Han River, Jamsil, Bongeunsa Temple, and Seonjeongneung, as well as a luxury hotel and officetel to meet the demand for long-term business trips of VIP visitors.
The lower floors, which will be utilized as a complex cultural space for citizens, are located along the Yeongdong-daero and will serve as a globally significant cultural hub representing the future of Seoul, organically connected to the green space in the center of the complex.
The exhibition hall is set to be a differentiated interactive space featuring experiential science content that can inspire and innovate across various age groups. The performance hall will incorporate advanced audio systems to accommodate various genres.
Hyundai Motor Group is expected to commence negotiations with the city of Seoul this month. A group representative stated, "The GBC is a large-scale private investment project with significant socioeconomic value and impact," adding that once the project is on track, it will greatly contribute to boosting the vitality of the domestic economy, which faces challenges such as a slump in consumer spending and sluggish construction activity.