Located along Seoul’s iconic Teheran-ro, this narrow-footprint office building presents a bold vertical gesture within a densely developed urban corridor.
Completed in 2018, the structure rises as a refined composition of alternating dark metal panels and transparent glazing, creating a rhythmic façade that reflects the surrounding skyline.
The design utilizes horizontal banding to emphasize floor levels while breaking down the visual height of the tower.
With limited frontage, the building maximizes its presence through clean geometry, high transparency, and precise detailing.
The entry sequence is clearly defined, framed by black anodized panels and double-height glazing that draws users inward.
The project demonstrates how tight infill sites can be transformed into expressive and efficient commercial architecture.
Minimal in expression yet confident in posture, the PSP Office Building offers a contemporary workplace seamlessly integrated into the high-density business district of Gangnam.
KCC Double-Low-E Window System
Double Low-E (Low Emissivity) glass is a high-performance glazing solution in which a thin layer of silver (Ag) coating is applied twice to the glass surface. This treatment significantly reduces the amount of solar heat that enters the interior space through the glass.
When two sheets of Double-Low-E glass are used to create insulated glazing units, the thermal insulation performance improves by approximately 30%.
By blocking excessive solar radiation and preventing the loss of cool indoor air, these advanced window systems contribute to energy savings in cooling costs.
In addition to improved insulation, they offer benefits such as noise reduction and prevention of condensation, enhancing both comfort and building performance.
Thin Ceramic Panel
Thin ceramic panels are highly durable materials resistant to both organic and inorganic solvents, offering excellent sterilizing and cleaning capabilities with an easily maintainable surface.
They are designed to inhibit the growth of mold, bacteria, and other microbial organisms, promoting a hygienic environment.
The tile surface is highly heat-resistant and does not emit toxic gases in the event of a fire.
Additionally, it blocks ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight and maintains its surface color consistently regardless of weather conditions.
Insulated Folding Door
Commonly used in terraces and garage openings, folding doors offer a unique blend of open spatial quality, smooth operation, and refined interior aesthetics.
The fully glazed panels provide expansive, unobstructed views to the outside, reducing the sense of enclosure and enhancing visual openness from the interior.
Equipped with high-performance insulated double glazing, these doors effectively block external cold and heat, significantly improving thermal performance.
In addition to reducing heating and cooling costs, they also prevent condensation and contribute to a more energy-efficient and comfortable indoor environment.
Inside
Tempered Glass Railing
Tempered glass railings offer a clean, modern, and sophisticated appearance. Commonly used for safety and fall prevention, they provide unobstructed views, enhancing both visibility and a sense of openness within the space.
LED Line Lighting
LED line lighting is a premium lighting solution that delivers sleek, modern aesthetics and evenly distributed illumination across the entire space. Available in various color options, it can be installed continuously without length limitations and flexibly around corners—making it highly adaptable and easy to maintain.
Blanco Marfin (Brazilian Granite)
Blanco Marfin, used for flooring and interior wall finishes in the PSP Tower, is a natural granite with a white base and distinctive speckled pattern. Sourced from Brazil, it is highly durable and resistant to scratching and staining, making it ideal for floors, furniture tops, stair treads, and even exterior cladding.
Elevator Hall LED Lighting
LED lighting installed in the elevator hall of the PSP Tower not only contributes to energy efficiency but also provides consistent brightness, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the space.
Its soft color temperature creates a warm and welcoming ambiance without glare, reducing visual fatigue.
In addition, the lights do not emit UV wavelengths, preventing insect attraction during the summer months—making them both functional and visually refined interior elements.
Inside
Rooftop Garden & Sky View
At the crown of the PSP Tower, a tranquil rooftop garden offers a rare retreat amidst Seoul’s dense Teheran-ro business district.
Designed with a thoughtful combination of paving patterns, greenery, and seating, the space provides users with a calm, contemplative environment above the city's dynamic energy.
Carefully framed voids within the rooftop enclosure create a sense of openness while maintaining privacy and wind protection.
This elevated pocket park not only enhances the building’s amenity value but also contributes to urban sustainability by introducing soft landscape into the vertical fabric of the city.
The rooftop also reveals a stunning 360-degree sky view, allowing for visual connection with the surrounding skyline and distant mountains beyond.
It is a spatial gesture that blends architecture with landscape, providing both relief and reconnection within the verticality of high-rise urban life.
Structural Method
Structure of Tendons (Prestressing Steel) and Anchorages Used in the Post-Tensioning Method
(Image source: Google)
Post-Tension (PT) Construction Method
In the Teheran-ro Office Building project, the Post-Tension (PT) method was selected to minimize the number of columns and maximize both open floor space and ceiling height.
This decision was driven by architectural goals to achieve spatial flexibility within the constraints of a narrow urban site.
Post-Tensioning is a structural technique that uses high-strength steel tendons—commonly known as “tendons”—to reinforce concrete after it has cured.
By applying tension to these tendons within the slab or beam, the system significantly reduces deflection and allows for longer spans without additional structural support.
The PT method is often used as an alternative when conventional construction systems cannot meet complex site limitations or demanding architectural requirements.
In this project, it enabled a sleek and efficient structural framework that aligned with the design vision of a compact yet open vertical office tower.
The greatest advantage of the post-tensioning method is
ts excellent deflection control, which allows for reduced slab thickness. This contributes to a reduction in floor height, enabling more floors to be constructed within the same building height. Additionally, it minimizes the size and number of columns, maximizing usable space. It also offers superior control of deflection and cracking, and reduces the overall building load, leading to decreased usage of concrete and rebar. As a result, it improves constructability and cost-efficiency, while also lowering foundation construction costs.
The post-tensioning method was first developed in Europe and applied in 1933 to the foundation construction of a French naval terminal.
Subsequently, active research was carried out in the United States and Australia, where it began to be used to reinforce the foundations of residential houses in order to mitigate building damage caused by ground conditions.
Today, the post-tensioning method is widely used across the United States and Europe in commercial buildings, office buildings, residential apartments, high-rise condominiums, parking structures, and mixed-use facilities such as hotels and casinos.
In Korea as well, more developers and building owners are adopting the post-tensioning method due to its ability to reduce the number of columns and enable thinner slabs, thereby lowering overall floor heights.
(Source: Architectural Structure, March 2010, Vol. 17, No. 1)
