Safe illusions. Office tower from OBBA

Residents of South Korea are returning to work in offices, the business center of Seoul is coming to life again. One of the conditions is that the temperature of all employees is measured at the entrance to the lobby of the office towers. The open atrium of The Illusion high-rise is a vivid example of a relatively safe space.

When architects Lee Seojeon and Kwak Sanjoon from the Seoul studio OBBA worked on the project, they did not imagine that the world would be faced with the coronavirus pandemic. They faced the task of creating an office center that would not only be functional, but would also bring variety and even a certain chic to the monotony of the business district. The idea succeeded - The illusion, opened in 2018, became one of the most popular buildings in the Socho-gu area.

The illusion office tower atrium. Photo: Kyungsub Shin

The illusion brings a touch of luxury to the functional architectural ensemble of the Socho-gu district. Photo: Kyungsub Shin

Synergetic solutions are the crown jewel of OBBA. They decided to connect the two concrete towers with a set of bridges and an external staircase leading from the lobby to the fifth floor. The walls of the open sky atrium are covered with hexagonal steel panels with reflective surfaces. The glare of the light and the game are reflected, visually expanding the narrow well, and the employees walking down the stairs look no less impressive than movie stars at the festival.

The reflected game turns going down and up the stairs into an exciting adventure. Photo: Kyungsub Shin

An open staircase allows you to minimize the use of elevators. Photo: Kyungsub Shin

From the street side, the atrium up to the level of the fourth floor is hidden behind a perforated screen made of black concrete. Such reclusiveness is a tribute to national Korean traditions and the love of Koreans for solitude. The light, reflecting off the mirror faces, breaks through the perforation, emphasizing the contrast of materials and color.

The natural ventilation of the office atrium makes it safe during the pandemic. Photo: Kyungsub Shin

The presence of a duplicate route on the stairs, as well as free air circulation and natural ventilation of the office atrium under the open sky, significantly simplify the task of managers, who are now obliged to separate the flows of office employees and minimize the use of elevators. And if an hour ago the OBBA project gained worldwide popularity thanks to its aesthetic architectural solutions, today the building can be viewed from the point of view of its relatively safe use.