The design concept for the new MCM flagship in Gangnam, Seoul, is inspired by the Bauhaus movement, which married experimentation in manufacturing with craftsmanship and traditional arts.

The store is conceived as a house that embodies the Bauhaus’ totality of artistic mediums – spanning industrial, graphic, furniture, interior design and architecture.
The Bauhaus ethos finds expression in flagship store’s new metal façade, the building reads as a curio box with curated window openings that rests on a heavy concrete base. The existing building was articulated as two separate facades and the main challenge was to create a new façade that would still respect the floor area ratio but be perceived as one building. Additional structural reinforcement was required to support the new façade which was straightened to bridge the gap between the irregular slab edge between the parking tower and the retail area to create a singular massing.

In response to the north facing condition of the façade, a bronze-colored metal was chosen to reflect as much natural light as possible on windows with 400mm depth, introducing relief and shadows. These large openings also help frame visual merchandise and the activities of the interior. Bronze metal mesh is veiled over the large openings and rests proud of the façade to give depth and textured layering. The brutal concrete base provides a street scape presence at the scale of the pedestrian and offers a dedicated show window for visual merchandise.

On the interior, graphic signage, lighting décor and carefully curated furniture selection brings MCM HAUS to life as a space for dwelling. The walls and floors are finished in raw concrete. Ceilings were left exposed and painted to maximize clear height. The simple exterior massing and form, exposed structural elements on the interior and use of raw concrete pays homage to functionalism and a return to material honesty.

Bronze accents and metalwork throughout offer contrast with the raw finishes to give warmth and luxury to the space. Millwork for all vitrines, shelving and display platforms were all custom designed and tailored to the functional requirements of the various types of products on display. The fitting rooms are lined with a corrugated, ribbed glass-fiber-reinforced-concrete with bronze metalwork supporting hooks, shelving and curtains.

The interior journey begins on the ground floor – spatially the most open floor with large windows looking out to the street and rear courtyard garden. Built-in wall millwork display handbags and backpacks, while floating VMD platforms showcase larger products and lastly, the smaller vitrines showcase the smaller leather goods and accessories. The visitor then continues up the large sculptural staircase spanning 3 levels with large platforms that double a stage for rotating visual merchandise displays.

Neri & Hu

The post MCM Flagship Seoul was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.