Korean beauty giant Amorepacific, the largest cosmetic company in South Korea, has just moved into their new headquarters. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, the Amorepacfic's new 30 story high-rise is as serene and calming as any of their botanical formulas. 

It is covered in matte-white aluminum brise-soleil panels, applied in four different arrangements designed to reduce unwanted solar radiation and glare. Beneath, a second thermal skin made of floor-to-ceiling glass with opaque ventilation panels provides additional thermal comfort. Together, they create a lightweight, textile-like curtain, that adds a playful depth to the external appearance.

The primary aim for the project was to create a building with a distinct identity. The new offices are part of a masterplan that will substantially alter the urban fabric of the Yongsan district in Seoul. Representing the largest high-rise development in Korea, the architects wanted to create an office that would serve as an anchor for the area.

The proportions of the building have been carefully developed around a central courtyard—a concept that "offers a silhouette and more importantly a place to be" says Christoph Felger, Partner and Design director. The three large urban openings feature 'hanging gardens,' that extend nature from the adjacent park and provide important, recreational space for those who use the building.

The dedicated office spaces and headquarter facilities are confined to the upper stories of the building while the first four levels remain dedicated to amenities that give back to the city. “Buildings of this scale have a public responsibility that needs to be addressed by offering a public destination beyond formal appearance,” the architects said. Public programming for the building includes a library, exhibition space, retail, restaurants, an auditorium, and the company's own Museum of Art.

“The building suggests generosity of spirit to the people who work here and the citizens" echoed David Chipperfield, who leads the firm. "It is more than an office, it is something that mediates between the company and the city. It shows how a company can participate in the larger community.”