AON Building by LKSA: Harmonizing Urban Context and Natural Landscape

Architects: LKSA

Situated at the terminus of the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, the AON Building embraces a unique juxtaposition of urban and natural contexts. A 20-meter-wide road borders the front of the site, while the lush parkland stretches behind. The architectural strategy responds directly to these contrasting environments: the road-facing façade features minimal openings, projecting a solid and robust mass, while the park-facing side maximizes transparency, fostering a visual and spatial dialogue with the forest.

This duality emphasizes both privacy and openness, allowing the building to feel grounded in the urban environment while inviting the natural landscape into the visitor experience.

Design Concept and Spatial Experience

As a community-oriented facility, the interior prioritizes flexibility and openness. Large, adaptable spaces accommodate a variety of sub-programs, from exhibitions to community gatherings. Each floor includes outdoor terraces, encouraging informal interactions with the surrounding park and enhancing the building’s connection to nature.

Visitors experience a seamless transition from the structured urban streetscape to the immersive greenery of the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, reinforcing the building’s role as both a public amenity and a cultural landmark.

Architectural Details and Materiality

The stone façade is articulated with meticulous precision. Horizontal joints are cut every 50mm to create subtle texture variation, while chamfered sill stones and lintels form robust, sculptural openings. On the street-facing side, the building enjoys freedom in spatial configuration, unimpeded by neighboring structures or sunlight restrictions.

This thoughtful detailing underscores the architects’ intent to create a building that is both durable and tactile, blending urban solidity with natural engagement.

Visitor Experience and Environmental Interaction

The AON Building encourages visitors to engage deeply with its surroundings. Park-facing openings provide visual permeability, allowing occupants to connect with the changing seasons of the forest. Through these strategies, the building becomes more than just a structure; it acts as a mediator between urban life and nature, offering contemplative and interactive experiences for everyone.

All photographs are works of Gu Uijin