Architecture News Plus (ANP) – Architecture and Design Magazine

Boutique Monaco: Missing Matrix

This is a project by Mass Studies and it is located at Seoul, South Korea. Project's program: Apartment tower with commercial, cultural, and community spaces on the lower levels. There are forty one images for Boutique Monaco: Missing Matrix.

: © Yong-Kwan Kim

Project details

Project name: Boutique Monaco: Missing Matrix
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Program: Apartment tower with commercial, cultural, and community spaces on the lower levels
Area: Site Area: 4284.80 m2 • Total Floor Area: 54859.92 m2
Year: Design: 2004.7 – 2005.9 • Construction: 2005.5 – 2008.8
More details: Site Coverage Area: 1713.13 m2 • Building-to-Land Ratio: 39.98% • Floor Area Ratio: 866.54% • Building Scope: 27F, B5 • Structure: RC, SRC • Finish: (Lower Floors) High Gloss White Concrete, Moss Catch System, T12 Reinforced Glass, T24 Low-E Double Glass (Upper Floors) T24 Low-E Double Glass, T24 Pastel Double Glass, T19 Cedar Siding
Client: Bumwoo Co. Ltd. • Leadway Co. Ltd.
Project by: Mass Studies
Team: Project Team: Minsuk Cho, Kisu Park, Zongxoo U, Jinyoung Ha, Weekyun Yoo, Younkyoung Shin, Geunmi Ryu, Joonhee Lee, Hunsoo Park, Dongyeop Lee, Soonpyo Lee, Yeojin Choi, Kwangjin Woo, Sungmin Paik, Ranhee Kim, Joungwon Lee, Vin Kim, Wonjin Kim, Bumhee Han, Haerim Seo, Seungju Kwon, Jongseo Kim, Hyunjung Kim, Daewoong Kim, Bumhyun Chun, Kyungnam Min
Others: Structural Engineer: TEO Structure • MEP Engineer: HANA Consulting & Engineers • Landscaping: Environmental Design Studio • Construction: GS E&C

Project images

Designer's statement

This tower project has a floor area of 54,859m2, with commercial, cultural, and community spaces on the lower levels, and officetels on floors 5 through 27.

To ensure the maximum building footprint ratio (40%) as well as optimal natural light conditions, a C-shaped plan is extruded into a 27-story tower consistent with the Domino Matrix to reach a height of 100 meters, the maximum height allowed by law. When the C-shaped plan is simply repeated vertically, however, the floor space of the entire tower exceeds the legally allowed amount by approximately 10%.

To reduce this mass systematically, missing matrices are introduced, meeting the maximum FAR (970%) throughout the building mass. Through 15 missing spaces, the building gains more exterior surface and corners for more natural light and better views. The spaces created by the missing matrices are landscaped with trees that are visible from the inside and outside of the building.

Inside the tower, a total of 49 different types of units, 172 units in total, are arranged heterogeneously to reflect and exploit rich spatial conditions. For example, in the area created by the 15 missing matrices, there are 40 units with bridges that divide public (living/dining area) and private spaces (bedroom) within individual units, along with 22 units with gardens.