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Uncommon Store

Atelier.Archi@mosphere

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Hyundai Group and Amazon Web Services collaborated to form the unmanned commerce system. This system can be accessed through scanning QR codes, unleashing customized experiences for the consumers to purchase and explore the store. - Yongjoon Choi
The systematic interface of Uncommon Store, a collaboration of Hyundai Group and AWS, can be accessed through QR codes. Implications of QR codes recognize the individual customer and provide specialized experience to each. - Yongjoon Choi
Targeting the dominant consumer group of the future, the design of Uncommon Store is grounded in Retro Futurism. The signature design motifs, incandescent oval loops, of salmon pink color forms composition with strap lights and acrylics. - Yongjoon Choi
Hyundai Group and Amazon Web Services collaborated to form the unmanned commerce system. This system can be accessed through scanning QR codes, unleashing customized experiences for the consumers to purchase and explore the store. - Yongjoon Choi

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Light
7.67
6.83
7.50
4.92
6.73
Doris Sung
Doris Sung Principal/Director of Undergraduate Programs at DOSU Studio Architecture/USC School of Architecture
I give high marks for innovation be...
9
9
8
5
7.75
Nathan Watts
Nathan Watts Creative Director at Interstore
8
5
8
3
6
Lorcan O'Herlihy
Lorcan O'Herlihy Founder, Design Principal at Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects [LOHA]
8
6
8
5
6.75
Akanksha Deo Sharma
Akanksha Deo Sharma Designer at Ikea
8
6
8
5
6.75
Julio Kowalenko
Julio Kowalenko Cofounder at Atelier Caracas
7
8
8
5
7
Simon Goff
Simon Goff Founder and Director at Floor_Story
8
7
8
5
7
Ting Yu
Ting Yu Chief Architect at Wutopia Lab
6
6
5
5
5.5
Janne van Berlo
Janne van Berlo Founder at Atelier van Berlo
7
8
7
4
6.5
Tobias Geisler
Tobias Geisler Cofounder at VAVE Studio
9
7
8
5
7.25
Frank Lee
Frank Lee Founder and President at Shanghai Fengyuzhu Culture Technology
8
7
9
7
7.75
Nic Granleese
Nic Granleese CEO and Cofounder at BowerBird
6
6
6
5
5.75
Jeff Yrazabal
Jeff Yrazabal President at SRG Partnership
8
7
7
5
6.75
Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Multi-Brand Store
7.50
6.70
7.00
4.90
6.53
Nathan Watts
Nathan Watts Creative Director at Interstore
9
4
7
4
6
Akanksha Deo Sharma
Akanksha Deo Sharma Designer at Ikea
8
6
7
5
6.5
Julio Kowalenko
Julio Kowalenko Cofounder at Atelier Caracas
6
7
7
5
6.25
Ting Yu
Ting Yu Chief Architect at Wutopia Lab
5
6
5
5
5.25
Janne van Berlo
Janne van Berlo Founder at Atelier van Berlo
8
8
6
4
6.5
Simon Goff
Simon Goff Founder and Director at Floor_Story
8
8
8
5
7.25
Tobias Geisler
Tobias Geisler Cofounder at VAVE Studio
a uncommon concept with a uncommon...
9
7
8
5
7.25
Frank Lee
Frank Lee Founder and President at Shanghai Fengyuzhu Culture Technology
7
8
8
7
7.5
Victoria Yakusha
Victoria Yakusha Founder and chief architect at Yakusha Studio & FAINA Collection of live design
7
6
7
4
6
Jeff Yrazabal
Jeff Yrazabal President at SRG Partnership
8
7
7
5
6.75
Client
The Hyundai Seoul Department Store
Floor area
33 ㎡
Completion
2021
Design Director
Designer
Photographer

New environments with technological innovations often fall short in their experience. Like the technology itself, the spatial design needs to present an equally or more immersive and original experience. In an attempt to balance these two, Archi@Mosphere’s experiment with Uncommon Store successfully captures the essence of technological innovations and their integration with space. As an architectural design group, Atelier Archi@Mosphere has been conducting extensive research into technological establishments around the world. During the research of the linchpin factor of technology, the design teams could not help but notice the impacts of the rapidly developing technology on our lifestyle for the last few years alone. Archi@Mosphere formed a partnership with Korea's retail conglomerate, Hyundai Department Store Group. The joint project applies the cutting-edge technological pieces in Uncommon Store Project. This project engages in a new consumer experience through the means of technology. Hyundai Department Store Group wants to be the forerunner in a future shopping environment by launching the largest department store in Yeouido, the financial hub of Seoul, South Korea. Moving away from the old convention of in-person commerce, Uncommon Store is the first unmanned store to be implemented and built with corporates. This ‘untact’ system results from collaborations between AWS (Amazon Web Service) and Hyundai Group. The store is accessed by scanning QR codes, which provides a customized experience, based on the stored data, of commerce. The system targets customers from the “MZ” generation, a Korean buzzword for those who are most familiar with the idea of the unmanned payment system at a very early age. These young consumers will drive the dominant commerce system in the next few years. They can adapt to the new payment system as the new norm in commerce and exchange. The entire space of Uncommon Store is a single computer. To realize this ‘untact' shopping experience, technological devices, such as Cloud System and Internet hyper-connections, ICT, AI complex sensors, and machine learning techniques, are integrated with the physical space. Furthermore, IoT forms a two-way communication between the space and its users. This aids in storing and reloading customer’s habits of consumption. Scanning the QR code upon entering unleashes a customized experience to them. The biggest design challenge expanded beyond achieving the Retro Futuristic aesthetic. Such a store at a large scale did not exist before in the city. Therefore, a full comprehension of the complex threads of technology and their successful integration with the environment for smooth operations was indispensable in the process. In terms of design aesthetics, the current design trend in Seoul is Retro Futurism. This generation strongly relies on social media and other means of technology for expressing themselves. Taking advantage of the phenomenon, the design of Uncommon Store naturally attracts the main group of consumers, the “MZ” generation. Archi@Mosphere’s design sets itself apart from other future-oriented stores which attempt on recapturing the retro design boom, through a clear design language. The spatial organization began with a series of oval bands packaging the interior space. The symbolic shape of the strap is inspired by the implications of neon straps from the 1960s. They were common parts of the exteriors of retro theaters. They are evident in shelves that display goods; they organize as well as act as mechanical devices that regulate all unmanned systems. These straps, furthermore, serve as a single-light beacon that illuminates the entire space. Laminate surfaces on the patterned ceiling extend from the strap, enhancing the futuristic feeling. The compositions of the materials highlight the future-oriented ambiance: sets of industrialized materials such as metal, acrylic, retro color schemes. The color scheme includes two to three overlays of colors. The layering increases the visual depth of Uncommon Store.