Juno Academy / AI Architects

Curated by ArchDaily

Architects: AI Architects
Area: 2500 m²
Year: 2016
Photographs:Yoon, Joonhwan
Manufacturers: ECLAT KOREA, REGOLITH, TAKARA BELMONT
Lighting Design: Bitzro & Partners
Furniture: Design Seoda, AI Architects
Construction: Janghak Engineering & Construction

Text description provided by the architects. Learning and training center for hair and beauty students located in the most prestigious area of Gangnam. The 8-story building includes training rooms, auditorium for large seminars and cultural events, and a rooftop penthouse lounge space.

Juno Academy / AI Architects - Chair — © Yoon, Joonhwan

The main training salon is a double height space on the 5^th floor that is the showcase for Juno Academy. The highlight of a multi-level academy for hair and beauty, this space can transform into a venue for presentations, seminars and shows. Free-standing designer stations are easily movable allowing flexible layouts. The raw-industrial materials of pre-cast cement blocks and brushed-finish bronze ceiling panels extend outward to the underside of a double-height cantilevered terrace. Images of the moon are projected on this ceiling at night contributing public art to one of the most exclusive retail districts in Gangnam.

Exposed concrete block columns are spaced according to the designer station module emphasizing the verticality of the space and bringing texture and scale to this large volume. The upper level offers views of the training activity below for visitors.

The building sits on a narrow site with the main stair and elevator hall taking up over a third of the floor area. In order to maximize the public space, these fire separate halls are opened to the main function spaces so that there is constant interaction between them. The halls are used as an informal lounge space with the walls showing the history of the academy and expressing the vision and mission of its founder.

The top floor with access to a lush roof garden is based on a library loft concept with sitting, dining and open kitchen areas. The library bookshelves with a mezzanine level filling the entire wall is the centerpiece of the space. Natural walnut wood floors and long dining table, wood slat ceiling, copper mesh between the kitchen and dining, and brushed metal finishes continues the industrial theme but with a much warmer tone, color and lighting. Its become a favorite place for meeting, dining, and informal parties.

To accommodate large conferences and events, the basement level maximized the site area by pushing the walls to the site boundary line and eliminated columns by transferring all the structure to the outside building line. The column-free space with 5m high ceiling has movable walls for flexible space configuration and full-height pivoting glass entry doors to allow the space to flow into the foyer area. With a sunken garden planted with giant bamboo trees, this basement level gets plenty of natural light and ventilation.

The typical training spaces follow the same layout as the main training salon with island movable training stations, and fixed stations along the wall. The color and material concept in wood, metal, and exposed concrete floors continue here with details and lighting to match the scale of the space.