The design is planned to fragment and intersect lightweight, floating boxes on a steep and narrow alley site. These intersecting boxes create large and small courtyards on every floor, offering a middle space. This middle space provides a rich spatial experience not only for the residents but also for visitors and people passing through the alley. Unlike typical neighborhood commercial buildings, which are usually disconnected from both the interior and exterior, the internal and external spaces here are continuously connected and interact. During the design process, we followed regulations such as the strict northern sunlight angle but sought to eliminate the impression that the design was merely a result of regulatory constraints.
In most small commercial buildings in the city, the first floor is the most important commercially, which often leads to the upper and lower floors being undervalued. However, Cheongdam-dong alley is not a main street, and even if the shops are small, each floor becomes activated, with visitors tending to seek out specific spaces. Therefore, the "Light Cube" is designed so that not only the first floor but also the basement and second floor are directly connected to the street. To achieve this, the first floor naturally recedes, creating a small courtyard, while the second-floor entry staircase connects to the existing alley slope. A sunken staircase that leads to the basement is also linked from the courtyard. Unlike most commercial buildings, where escape routes and elevators merely connect spaces without offering any spatial experience, this design allows for a more spatial and three-dimensional experience through the extended alley, courtyard, and exterior staircases. Visitors enter the building in a dynamic way, enhancing their urban experience as they move through the space.
The exterior finishes, though made of heavy stone materials, are perceived as light due to the rhythmic floating masses. This design choice allows the building to appear clearly defined in concept. The cubes, stacked without any windows on the exterior, set the building apart from surrounding structures, enhancing its value as a commercial building while also providing an open space to accommodate various activities in the urban alley. The goal is to create an enjoyable yet understated scene in a typically expressionless alley, one that is not overly extravagant or flashy.
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