Taking inspiration from traditional Korean art forms in the design of the various interior program spaces, the sleek tapered form of Lotte World Tower will stand out from Seoul’s rocky, mountainous topography. The tower is programmed with a greater variety of functions than is normally found in a tall building. It contains retail components, offices, a 7-star luxury hotel, and an officetel. Officetels, common in South Korean real estate, offer studio-apartment-style accommodations for people who work in the building and often feature certain services found in hotels, such as furnishings, a security desk, and gym access. The building’s top 10 stories are earmarked for extensive public use and entertainment facilities, including an observation deck and rooftop café.

The design of the tower melds a modern aesthetic with forms inspired by Korean ceramics, porcelain, and calligraphy. The seam that runs from top to bottom of the structure gestures toward the old center of the city. Elegance of form was one of the prime objectives, following the desire of stakeholders to bestow a beautiful monument to the capital city skyline. Exterior materials will be light-toned silver glass accented by a filigree of white lacquered metal.

Lotte World Tower has been designed and constructed at the same time as a 10-story base that accommodates as much area as its vertical counterpart. Vertical density is linked to horizontal density, and the range of complementary uses is increased. Connections between the two major building components are made via interior pathways at many levels, but also by active outdoor public space. In fact, one of the most effective measures taken to activate the tower and connect it to adjacent buildings is the outdoor plaza. This space forms an “outdoor room,” compressed enough in its dimensions to encourage visual and pedestrian penetration of its boundary walls.