Gunpo Industrial Complex is a premier logistics hub in Korea, located near the nation's largest integrated freight terminal, Incheon International Airport, and Pyeongtaek Port.
Strategically positioned for optimal logistics access, it offers convenient transport to Incheon Airport, which handles an impressive 4.5 million tons of cargo annually.
Gunpo City is approximately 30 minutes from Seoul’s Gangnam area and 20 minutes from Suwon, forming a metropolitan network with nearby cities such as Ansan, Anyang, Uiwang, and Siheung.
With large-scale residential areas nearby, including Bugok and Dang-dong District 2, housing around 9,000 households, the complex offers superior living conditions compared to other industrial zones.
Support Facilities Site — Placed along the main access roadway to enhance accessibility.
Image source: Gunpo Advanced Industrial Complex official website.
In the design competition for the new Gunpo Complex Center to be built within the Gunpo Advanced Industrial Complex,
KYK Architects Co., Ltd. has been selected as the winning firm.
Sometimes the form reveals the background,
and sometimes the background reveals the form—
exploring the boundary between illusion and misunderstanding.
(Image source: NAVER)
The "Rubin’s Vase" drawn by Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin
provokes a perceptual illusion,
where multiple images appear superimposed.
– Completion Photo –
The staircase, exposed to the exterior, emphasizes clear visual circulation and enhances accessibility between the ground floor and upper levels. It adds rhythm to the façade and promotes a sense of openness and public engagement.
The terraces connect interior and exterior spaces on each floor, serving functional roles such as natural lighting, ventilation, and casual rest areas. Combined with the staircase, they create a three-dimensional spatial flow and act as a potential community interface within the urban context.
The newly revealed angles of the building highlight several key architectural strategies:
– The deep-set terraces articulate the façade, breaking down the mass and introducing a dynamic three-dimensional rhythm.
These cut-ins not only provide visual interest but also create buffer zones between the interior and exterior.
– The terraces act as urban frames, subtly revealing interior activity to the outside and maintaining a balance between openness and privacy within a dense industrial context.
– The use of sleek panel cladding and a grid of windows enhances the building’s refined and contemporary expression, while the consistent lines enforce a sense of order and composure.
