HyundaiCard Air Lounge in Incheon, South Korea by Gensler

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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

HyundaiCard Air Lounge in Incheon, South Korea by Gensler

February 1st, 2012 by Sumit Singhal

Article source: Gensler

Located at Incheon Airport in Korea, this 250 sm project seeks to create an exclusive environment to offer unique travel assistance for HyundaiCard Black members. As a counterpoint to the surrounding visual noise and frenzied airport activity, the proposed parti is deceptively simple, with functions arranged in a freestanding “black box”.

Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

Architects: Gensler
Project: HyundaiCard Air Lounge
Location: Incheon, South Korea
Owner: HyundaiCard Company
Consultant: Laschober + Sovitch
Engineer: Kesson International
Lighting: Kaplan Gehring McCarroll
Photography: Ryan Gobuty

Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

Much like a perfectly organized suitcase, this monolithic object contains all the information, accessories, entertainment, and gifts needed for a memorable travel experience. The HyundaiCard space shifts the paradigm of a traditional lounge by combining lounge, retail, and museum programs. Rather than a static place for waiting, it is a dynamic space one passes through to better prepare for the trip ahead. As such, visitors are able to pace their movements through the space according to individual needs, desires, and schedules.

Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

Among the unique features in the lounge are a custom vending machine, fantastic dream-like art movies by Hiraki Sawa, and a personalized flight tracking system. Also, there are two virtual skylights in the black box, both of which move slowly through the color spectrum of the sky. These spaces act as haven-like environments in which travelers become aware of the sky’s variations, thus establishing a symbolic, if not poetic relationship with the notion of air travel.

Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

Within the constraint of a small envelope, reflective surfaces provide visual relief while cove lighting plays up the ethereal atmosphere of the space.

Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

: Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

: Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

: Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

: Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

: Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

: Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

: Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

: Image Courtesy Ryan Gobuty

Contact Gensler

Tags: Incheon, South Korea

Category: Lounge

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