South Korean department store Galleria has opened its latest outpost in Gwanggyo, a town located south of Seoul. The franchise’s sixth location, which boasts a striking mosaic stone façade, is situated in the heart of a new development.
Architecture firm OMA spearheaded the design of the project, sculpting the retail space to evoke natural imagery reminiscent of the nearby Gwanggyo Lake Park. The cubic exterior links to a newly created public path and sidewalk that leads to the rooftop garden. The route is sheathed in a multifaceted glass shell that contrasts the opacity of the stone.
“The public loop entwines Gwanggyo and the Galleria by making visible and tangible the activities of shopping typically hidden from the city,” says OMA associate Ravi Kamisetti.
“With a public loop deliberately designed for cultural offerings, Galleria in Gwanggyo is a place where visitors engage with architecture and culture as they shop,” adds OMA partner Chris van Duijn. “They leave with a unique retail experience blended with pleasant surprises after each visit.”
