Gold Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2020
Studio Atelier11 Office
by Hyunmo Park
- A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Atelier11
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 50,991
- Verification code 8B1771E493 · Verify this award
About Studio Atelier11 Office
The building was based on a "triangle" with the strongest visual image of the original geometric form. If you look down from a high place, you can see a total of five different triangles The combination of triangles of different sizes means that "human" and "nature" play a role as a place where they meet.
Studio Atelier11's Office exemplifies a refined approach to contemporary architectural practice wherein the workspace itself becomes both laboratory and manifesto, articulating through built form the design principles its creators espouse. Emerging from a tradition of architect-designed studios that includes such venerated precedents as Alvar Aalto's atelier and Tadao Ando's concrete sanctuaries, this structure negotiates the complex dialogue between assertive formal gesture and contextual sensitivity with notable sophistication. The triangular void carved into the rooftop plane appears to reference both the ancient atrium typology—that fundamental Mediterranean invention for drawing light into domestic interiors—and contemporary investigations into topological architecture where solid and void achieve equivalent expressive weight. Technical accomplishment manifests in the building's seamless integration of pragmatic function and poetic aspiration: the generous ground-floor glazing suggests transparency and accessibility appropriate to a creative practice engaging with clients and community, while the more protected upper zones intimate the contemplative focus required for design development. The chromatic decision to employ unrelieved white establishes the structure as what architectural theorists might term a "found object"—a pristine geometric intervention that gains meaning through contrast with its context rather than through mimetic absorption into surrounding fabric. One observes how the pyramidal skylight element, catching warm interior light, creates a beacon-like quality suggesting creative activity within, while the rooftop terrace demonstrates commitment to outdoor space as extension of working environment. The building invites consideration of how architectural practices might embody their values materially, transforming the quotidian act of maintaining professional premises into an ongoing act of design demonstration.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The building layout is an triangle of strong visual image among the original geographic shapes and the combination of different sized triangles play a role of place that humans and nature encounter. the angle of hypotenuse cut considering the angle of incidence is 25.5 degrees open to the south and the square frame cut vertically to the rooftop represents a shape of Mt.Halla with white background which reflects the characteristics of local architecture
The interior as well as the exterior of the building is a triangle. Towards the wall on the side of the rain that gathers pointedly, there is a meeting table cut at exactly the same angle. The lighting on top of it is also a triangular horn. If you look up at the ceiling, you'll see the square window connected. The sun shining through the building creates a shadow of a triangle again. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Lee Dam_Tile : Jeju Stone 600mmX600mm
Profitec Silicone Paint : Profitec Silicone Paint
- external insulation : 70T finishing : 729.78m²
- mash finishing : 955.14m² - Tags
- Geometry, Triangle, Locality, Sequence
- Production Technology
- FILOB : Double-sided roy transparent triple glazing
Profitec Silicone Paint Germany : Profitec Silicone Paint
Interior Finishing South Korea : Exposed concrete
Cube Lighting : SMPS, Pendant Lighting LED COB 12W/4000K/Black
Stairs Lighting : DD-38050B/3000K LED 2W
Bum Chun_Sus : Sus 304 Color Painting : Black
Jang Soo Interior_Furniture : Table, Desk, Service Bar Book Case, Mini Bar - Design Challenge
- Triangle is like a bad duck in original architecture.
Not only is it not only used or unefficient compared to building costs, construction is also very difficult.
The land plan, born for efficiency in land use and construction, ironically produces numerous deformed triangles at the boundary.
The triangle was the most difficult and interesting challenge to push the design vocabulary from concept to detail. - Project Duration
- Studio Atelier11 started in January 2018 and was completed in Jeju Island in February 2019
- Operation Flow
- In such place of compatibility, we made a direction to organize the space change based on abstract platonic shape as a complex that plays a role of intermediate medium while exposing the shape of the land.
- Research
- the 4 accumulated triangle boxes are the method to overcome the legal floor area ratio and the new spaces which are cut or shows different heights, are acting as new architectural device that connects people and provides sequence of various spaces by space experience due to the volume change in the simple shape.
- Inspiration
- Studio Atelier11 has the system with the line and grids that the urban development has accomplished recently to the north and the organic system that the natural patterns are preserved to the south, and located in the contact point that different road network of city plan.
- Image Credits
- Image Number : ALL Photographer : Ban Chiok / Illustrator : Kim Dohyung / Creator : Kim Dohyung / [Space]Photographer : Ban Chiok
Colors of Studio Atelier11 Office
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G0E23 ShopDesign Interview about Studio Atelier11 Office
Our main idea was to create an architectural mediator between the urban grid and the natural landscape. Located at the intersection of planned urban structures to the north and organic nature to the south, the A11 Office Building embraces the topography and builds a spatial language that reflects this duality.
The design is rooted in primal geometry—specifically, the triangle. By layering and intersecting four triangular volumes, we created a composition that is both visually striking and spatially dynamic. These shapes respond to both environmental factors and human scale, transforming a simple form into a nuanced spatial sequence.
Balancing legal constraints such as the floor area ratio with our desire for a sculptural form was a major challenge. The solution came through stacking and rotating volumes, effectively cutting and adjusting spaces while still maintaining architectural coherence and regulatory compliance.
The southern slope of the building, angled at 25.5°, was designed in direct response to the sun's path, while the rectangular frame at the rooftop frames Mount Halla—a symbolic presence for the Jeju region. These gestures allow the building to participate in the landscape, not just occupy it.
The configuration of the triangular masses creates in-between spaces that invite movement and gathering. The variation in scale and volume encourages exploration, offering a rich sequence of visual and spatial experiences that connect people within the building and to its surroundings.
Instead of relying solely on mechanical systems, we embraced passive design strategies such as maximizing solar access through orientation and slope. By exposing the natural ground and aligning with the site’s geometry, the design minimizes unnecessary interventions and harmonizes with the environment.
We wanted the users to feel a sense of openness and curiosity. As one navigates the structure, the shifting geometries and unexpected frames offer moments of surprise, calm, and connection—with nature, with others, and with the architecture itself.
Yes, we were deeply influenced by the work and philosophy of Louis Kahn. His approach to revealing structure through light, geometry, and silence strongly inspired how we shaped spaces in our own office. We also referenced vernacular Korean architecture—especially how it engages with courtyards and layered thresholds.
This design was primarily for ourselves. It is our own architectural office, so we designed it with the intention of creating a workspace that nurtures both deep concentration and spontaneous collaboration. However, as a showcase of our architectural values, it also speaks to potential clients who resonate with poetic functionality and spatial clarity.
Unlike many commercial offices, our building is intentionally small in scale yet rich in spatial experience. The design plays with light, material transitions, and unexpected voids to create a layered narrative. It also defies standard front-facing façades by inviting the visitor through a sequence of subtle spatial gestures.
The name is simply “atelier11 office.” We wanted it to be transparent and grounded—just like our design approach. “11” refers to our studio’s name, and keeping it in the project title reinforces that this space is both the physical and philosophical foundation of our practice.
We used a combination of analog and digital tools. Sketching and physical model-making helped us shape early concepts, while digital tools like Rhino, AutoCAD, and Enscape allowed us to fine-tune geometry, light, and spatial flow
The most unique aspect is the dialogue between mass and void. We deliberately cut into the volume to create terraces, courtyards, and skylit corridors. These carved-out spaces become transitional zones between work and rest, inside and outside, structure and sky
Yes, we collaborated closely with structural engineers and local builders who understood our intention for minimal yet precise detailing. Craftsmanship was essential, so we spent a lot of time on-site coordinating with carpenters and masons to get proportions and textures just right.
Technology played a silent but essential role. While the building appears handmade, much of its precision came from digital modeling, solar analysis, and detailed construction documentation. Passive design strategies were also tested digitally to optimize daylighting and ventilation.
Yes. We conducted sunlight studies and thermal performance simulations to ensure comfort in each workspace throughout the year. We also researched precedents in small-scale office buildings to understand spatial efficiency and user behavior patterns.
One of the biggest challenges was balancing cost with craft. Since it was a self-initiated project, budget constraints required careful prioritization. We had to make choices about where to focus detailing and where to simplify. Another challenge was zoning regulations, which we overcame through creative massing.
This project felt like a personal and professional milestone for us. It was the first time we designed a space entirely for ourselves. We wanted to share it with a global audience not to boast, but to connect with others who value quiet, intentional architecture.
This project deepened our understanding of space as a lived experience. We learned how the smallest decisions—such as the thickness of a wall or the way light enters a stairwell—can profoundly affect daily life. It taught us patience and trust in the slow, physical process of building.
Perhaps one final note: designing your own space is both freeing and humbling. It reveals your blind spots as much as your ideals. For us, this office is more than a building—it’s a quiet manifesto of how we want to live and design.