YUHANTECHNOS Headquarters is a faceted aluminium-and-glass office facade, not a curved terracotta curtain wall.
The 2019 archive post obscured the project’s identity and called its folded geometry “curved.” This corrected case study records the traceable project facts, explains how the workplace brief and southwest exposure informed the origami-like envelope, and extracts coordination questions for other faceted facades without turning one building into a universal detail.
Verified project record
The project is documented by MMKM associates and the A&C / masilground project record. Those sources support the identity and credits below; the old LOPO page did not provide them.
| Project and client | YUHANTECHNOS Headquarters; YUHANTECHNOS Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Location | 781-1 Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (project-record address) |
| Architect | MMKM associates; principal architect Min Seohong; Architect of Record ONEAN architects & associates; design team Arnold Ghil |
| Recorded scale | 951.00 m² site; 418.17 m² building area; 2,941.97 m² gross floor area; two basement levels and four above-ground floors; 23.90 m height |
| Timeline | Design May–December 2015; construction May 2016–October 2017 |
| Facade description | Long hexagonal aluminium sheets coordinated with glazing at the southwest corner; the architect’s finish schedule also lists aluminium windows with Low-E insulated glass and granite |
| Photography | Lee Hanul |
The workplace brief came before the facade image
According to the architect, the client’s former office occupied an apartment-type factory in Mullae-dong. Its deep, wide floorplate and low ceiling left the centre of the workplace with poor spatial conditions. The new headquarters brief therefore addressed usable depth, ceiling height, daylight/open views and places for staff to pause—not only corporate appearance.
MMKM divided office and service areas, then linked them through an atrium across the lower levels and a courtyard across the upper levels. Bridges and outdoor rest areas support circulation between those zones. Orienting internal workspace toward the atrium/courtyard and reducing its depth was intended to make openness available beyond the perimeter facade.
The envelope is folded, not curved
The site occupies a northeast corner at an intersection and exposes the office to the south and west. The architect describes elongated hexagonal aluminium sheets aimed toward the southwest corner with glazing between them. The west-facade glass faces northwest and the south-facade glass faces southeast, producing a symmetrical origami-like composition when viewed from the southwest.
This geometry changes the apparent facade with viewpoint, sun, sky and weather, but visual change is not performance evidence. The source says the folds were intended to respond to strong southwest afternoon sun; it does not publish a solar-reduction value, daylight result, energy saving, glass specification by elevation or measured comfort outcome.
Coordinate every plane and fold as a system
A faceted envelope replaces one simple facade plane with repeated changes of angle. Establish the governing survey/model, grids and datums, plane-to-plane angles, panel and glass modules, corner/setback geometry, mullion and joint lines, edge conditions, tolerances, drainage paths, cleaning access and replacement clearances. Freeze interfaces through controlled shop drawings and fabrication data.
Solar and visual analysis
Model each orientation and season for incident sun, glare risk, daylight distribution, views and internal loads. Coordinate glass, opaque zones, reveals/fins and interior controls without assuming a faceted form automatically shades every workspace.
Structure and movement
Trace wind, self-weight and other applicable actions through glass/panels, frames, brackets, anchors and substrate. Resolve corner pressures, eccentricity, deflection, building movement, thermal expansion, tolerances and temporary installation states.
Water, air and condensation
Detail pressure-equalised/drained paths where designed, seals, flashings, cavities, plane changes, bases, tops, openings and transitions. Evaluate interior/exterior surface temperatures and condensation risk at frames and geometric folds.
Fire and material interfaces
Coordinate spandrels, perimeter fire containment, cavity barriers where applicable, insulation, membranes, sealants, aluminium finishes and adjacent assemblies. Component data cannot substitute for required complete-detail evidence.
Prototype the geometry before full release
Use a representative visual mock-up to review plane transitions, reflections, opaque/glazed balance, joints, colour/finish, interior sightlines and workmanship. Where required, test a project-specific specimen containing critical folds, corners, support conditions and interfaces for structural, air/water, thermal or other specified criteria. Record exact components, configuration, loads/cycles, observations, acceptance limits and changes.
Plan fabrication, packing, lifting, access and installation around the released geometry. Define fixed/sliding points, adjustment, installation sequence, protection, inspection hold points and nonconformance authority. A photograph cannot show how a corner was anchored, drained or assembled, and an attractive fold must not become an unapproved site improvisation.
Translating the idea to architectural terracotta
This building should not be relabelled as a terracotta precedent. A new terracotta concept may pursue changing planes through planar panels, segmented modules, fins/baguettes, returns or manufacturer-confirmed special profiles, but each route has different spans, joints, corner pieces, subframe, tolerances, weight, evidence and replacement implications.
Before selecting a route, issue the target geometry and appearance, panel/product schedule, support concept, joint and corner strategy, design actions, substrate, cavity and enclosure layers, fire requirements, access and replacement plan. Confirm manufacturability with current samples and drawings, then coordinate project engineering and testing. Never infer that a ceramic unit can bend to match a visual “curve.”
- define whether the visual form is planar-folded, segmented, truly curved or created by projecting elements;
- set controlled geometry, module, joint, tolerance, corner/return and opening requirements;
- assign panel, subframe, anchor, substrate and enclosure-interface responsibilities;
- verify structure, movement, water/air, fire, thermal/acoustic and durability for the complete assembly;
- approve full-size samples/mock-ups and configuration-matched calculations/tests; and
- plan fabrication data, packing, installation, inspection, maintenance and replacement.
Review current panel context on Terracotta Rainscreen, linear elements on Terracotta Baguette, and built visual references in the Gallery. Those pages support selection; final geometry and system approval remain project-specific.
Coordinate a faceted facade concept
Share the building location and use, elevations/model, solar and workplace goals, target material, panel/module intent, support/substrate, enclosure interfaces, evidence requirements, mock-up/testing plan, access and programme. Final design, engineering, approvals, installation and compliance remain with the responsible project parties.