Transforming Warehouse into Carbon-Neutral Knowledge Hub

Transforming a Warehouse into a State-of-the-Art Facility

AIDIASTUDIO and ArchiWorkshop collaborated to transform an inward-looking, utilitarian warehouse into a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral facility. The objective was to create a visually stunning building that places the user and visitor at the center of the operations and experience of the building. The building's appearance was re-shaped and softened to reinterpret the beauty of the surrounding scenery, including the mountain ranges, ski slopes, and snow formations.

Utilizing Existing Structures and Creating New Spaces

The project involved reutilizing as much of the existing warehouse and office building structures as possible. The architect's intervention involved making an incision where the two buildings met to increase the quality of office space by absorbing more natural light and ventilation. The incision resulted in new visitor access on Level 01 and an elevated garden on Level 02, providing a semi-private open-air retreat for warehouse and office staff. The project also created a new public square with an amphitheater and vegetation in front of the building, providing an exciting destination for residents and tourists both inside and outside of the facility.

Embracing Sustainability and Workplace Wellness

The project's principle was to preserve and repurpose an unused building, making it sustainable. The building's extensive roof was retrofitted with solar panels, and a running circuit was proposed for staff use. The Data center was divided into two zones to provide appropriate temperature control features. The project also embraced the notion of "Workplace Wellness" by promoting a healthy and productive environment through naturally lighted and ventilated spaces that promote a good balance between worker concentration, productivity, and social interaction.

Holistic Landscaping Proposal

The project aimed to integrate all access roads, parking zones, and the building's foreground into a holistic landscaping proposal. The main goal was to provide a more friendly face to the new Preservation Centre, shaping clusters of vegetation with monumental steps and an amphitheater to be used in summer. Increasing the amount of vegetation was a key aspect of the strategy, not just for the beautifying effect but also to reduce the heat island effect, which could overheat the site in summer.

In conclusion, the Pyeongchang Knowledge Hub project transformed an inward-looking, utilitarian warehouse into a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral facility. The project embraced sustainability, workplace wellness, and holistic landscaping to create a visually stunning building that places the user and visitor at the center of the operations and experience of the building. The project utilized existing structures and created new spaces, resulting in a semi-private open-air retreat for warehouse and office staff and a new public square with an amphitheater and vegetation in front of the building.

Read also about the McCann Minneapolis' New Workplace: A Hub of Creative Urban Design project