The Environmental Technology Research Institute is dedicated to developing eco-friendly technologies for the automotive industry. Through research on future-oriented vehicles—including fuel cells, exhaust systems, and recycling—the institute works to bring future technologies into reality. With the goal of becoming one of the world’s top five automakers (the “Big 5”), and recognizing that pioneering the development of cutting-edge automotive technology is vital for securing a leading market position, the client sought to ensure that the institute’s image would be as forward-looking as the research it conducts. The researchers based here requested separate laboratories for their respective fields and team-specific office spaces within a single building. The design intended to harmoniously juxtapose open office spaces and enclosed laboratory spaces while maintaining a sophisticated and dignified image; an atrium was placed in the center to naturally separate and connect these distinct functions.

The site, enveloped by mountains and greenery like a folding screen, is situated at the entrance to the Yeogu Complex, overlooking a tranquil reservoir to the south. With the intention of having the building serve as a connector that helps the mountain and reservoir blend together rather than severing the connection between them, the design aimed to unify the mountain, land, and water. In keeping with the title “Environmental Technology Research Institute,” eco-friendly elements were incorporated into the building itself to improve LCC (Life Cycle Cost). These include natural ventilation through the atrium, reduced HVAC loads via a double-skin facade, and enhanced user comfort (amenity) through rooftop gardens and water features. indirect lighting via light shelves, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and water conservation through vacuum toilets.