The Happiness Foundation / THE_SYSTEM LAB

Curated by ArchDaily

Architects: THE_SYSTEM LAB: Chanjoong Kim
Area: 1242 m²
Photographs:Yongkwan Kim

Text description provided by the architects. Before the discussion of the building as an architectural project, it was most important to understand and recognise The Happiness Foundation's nature as social enterprise. The architects have been persistent from the very beginning with two concepts: contribution to the community, and to create a purposeful space for the users.

Before the discussion of the building as an architectural project, it was most important to understand and recognize The Happiness Foundation¡¯s nature as social enterprise. The architects have been persistent from the very beginning with two concepts: contribution to the community, and to create a purposeful space for the users.

Second, the user. The data from Harvard Business Review (HBR), in regards to the relationship between the environments of the office spaces to the efficiency of the work of employees, was taken into consideration to acknowledge a purposeful space for the users. In conclusion to the data analysis, it is the sustainability of the employee¡¯s health in both physical and emotional that brings the most efficiency in a work space.

The consideration of the surrounding (having limited openings) and the user¡¯s psychological health (requiring maximization of openings for natural light and air) led to a conclusion of programming 3 courtyards and 3 roof gardens along with the interior spaces. The building is divided into four segments, which can be read as four different buildings and increase in mass. This is similar to the evolution of ecosystem where it enlarges the surface area to attain more light, nutrient, and oxygen to the cells; and the practices found in real-estate development.

The three courtyards visually connect the interior spaces of the four buildings, and provide outdoor scenery that can be accessible from anywhere within the building. This form of organization departs from the traditional office space with aligned cubicles, and lacks in physical and management efficiency. As well as energy efficiency, in which the increase in surface area consequences more demand of usage in temperature control systems. Nevertheless, the persistence in this approach is driven by the concept of increase the employees contact with the nature along with natural ventilation. This arrangement results in psychological comfort for those working 8-hours a day at indoors.

The Happiness Foundation / THE_SYSTEM LAB - Windows, Glass, Handrail, Beam — © Yongkwan Kim

Another consideration in design was the human-scaled space, in which, the divisions that share similar characteristics would be clustered into a group to form a collaborated office environment. This also generates a strong bond of fellowship between the employees. Our approach differs from the environment-friendly concept, and directs into the concept of psychological sustainability.

The inclusion of 3 courtyards and 3 roof gardens generates a building with maximized outdoor contact in relative to the size of the building. In other words, provides a breathing/lively office organization. As the building may seem to be divided through formation of four separate sectors, two identities act as a bridge: the linear core, and the iron wire with composite wood placed on exposed concrete. The double-skin composite wood provides a path for the looped-drain from each garden, and as an element for the ivy to grow overtime to create a vertical garden. It also minimized the openings toward the embassies and delivered the message of acknowledgement of their high-security. And in return the project received active supports from both embassies throughout the construction. Written by Chanjoong Kim