The new department store building, the Galleria, designed by OMA’s Chris Van Duijn, has recently opened its doors. Located on a prominent street corner in Gwanggyo City, it serves as the sixth branch of South Korea’s first and largest high-end department store chain. This massive stone-like structure aims to become the “natural center of gravity” for the residents of this rapidly developing city.
© Hong Sung Jun
Surrounded by towering residential buildings, the Galleria stands out with its vibrant and dynamic façade composed of glass and stone. This sharp contrast to the existing urban fabric is intentional. OMA designed the textured mosaic façade to evoke the nearby Shuihara City Guangyao Binhu Park, giving it a milky white, marble-like appearance. The polyhedral glass elements embedded within the volume lend the building an organic quality and offer pedestrians captivating views of the interior.
© Hong Sung Jun
Beyond breaking the opacity of the massive stone mass, the polyhedral glass structure functions as a public loop, connecting the sidewalk to the rooftop garden. This rooftop area includes retail outlets and cultural activity spaces. The transparent glass allows city pedestrians to glimpse inside, while visitors inside enjoy sweeping views of Guangyao City’s skyline. The public loop incorporates a series of suspended terraces that serve as exhibition and performance venues.
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This specially designed public loop for cultural engagement transforms Guangyao Department Store into a destination where visitors encounter both architecture and culture alongside their shopping experience. Each visit offers a unique blend of discovery and delight.
— OMA Partner Chris Van Duijn
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The public loop weaves over Guangyao City and the department store, making the typically hidden shopping activities visible and engaging for the community.
— OMA Assistant Ravi Kamisetti
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Guangyao Gallery is the largest commercial branch in its ten years of operation and plays a vital role as a flagship store, offering a premium merchandise lineup along with top-tier VIP facilities and services. In collaboration with the world-renowned architecture firm OMA, the store’s unique form and innovative design—featuring a public ring road that introduces natural light throughout the interior—have earned it widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally. Guangyao Galleria is celebrated as one of the most beautiful department stores and is poised to become an iconic landmark representing Korea on the global stage, delivering fresh experiences to all visitors.
— Kim Eun Soo, President and CEO of Hanwha Galleria
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Project Information
Project Name: Radiant Gallery
Location: Gwanggyo, South Korea
Architectural Design: OMA
Owner: Hanwha Galleria
Status: Completed
Key Milestones: Commissioned in 2016; Schematic Design (2016); Design Development (2017); Construction Documentation (2017); Construction Administration (2018); Interior Design (2018)
Function: Retail
Ground Area: 793,526.24 ft² (73,721 m²)
Underground Area: 683,422.20 ft² (63,492 m²)
Managing Partner: Chris Van Duijn
Partner: Ravi Kamisetti
Project Creator: Patrizia Zobernig
Team:
Conceptual Design Phase: Mark Bavoso, Alan Lau, James Lee, Slobodan Radoman, Tianyu Su, John Thurtle
Scheme Design: Mark Bavoso, James Lee, John Thurtle
Design Development: Ikki Kondo, James Lee, Daan Ooievaar, Slobodan Radoman, John Thurtle
Interior Design: Nils Axen, Simon Bastien, Tommaso Bernabo, Minjung Cho, Felicia Gambino, Nicola Ho, Meng Huang, Zhenke Jin, Richard Leung, Ioana Pricop, Junsik Oh, Calvin Yue
Partner:
Executive Architect: Gansam
Contractor: Hanwha Engineering & Construction Corp.
Facade Consultant: VS-A
Curtain Wall Consultant (Intelligent Node): Withworks
Model Making: Edelsmid Emile Estourgie with Yasuhito Hirose and Made By Mistake, RJ Models
Model Photography: Frans Parthesius
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