High End Architecture of Galleria Gwanggyo

25 kilometers south of Seoul, a high-end Korean department store, designed by OMA, stands out amongst concrete structures. The Galleria Gwanggyo shopping center features a mosaic facade of neutral-toned stones cut into exact triangles. A series of geometric, opal windows offer those passing through the dome-like hallways a look at the burgeoning city’s activities.

The Galleria Gwanggyo is Korea’s first and largest upscale department store franchise founded in the 1970s, and has remained at the forefront of the premium retail market in the country since then. Located at the center of this young urban development surrounded by tall architectural residential towers, the Galleria Gwanggyo’s stone-like appearance makes it a natural point of gravity for public life.

The store is located between the Suwon Gwanggyo Lake Park and ubiquitous buildings in the city: an intersection between nature and the urban environment. The store has a textured mosaic stone façade that evokes nature of the neighbouring park. Appearing as a sculpted stone emerging from the ground, the store is a visual anchor in the city.

The public route has a multifaceted glass façade that contrasts with the opacity of the stone. Through the glass, retail and cultural activities inside are revealed to the city’s passers-by, while visitors in the interior acquire new vantage points to experience Galleria Gwanggyo. Formed with a sequence of cascading terraces, the public loop offers spaces for exhibitions and performances.

A place where retail and culture, city and nature collide, Galleria Gwanggyo offers a get away from the predictability of shopping.