The Hackers Education Group Headquarters project began with a vision to consolidate a scattered organization into a single hub, fostering synergy and creating an educational environment that leads the professional certification sector. The client sought to express Hackers' values through materials and architecture itself, free from excessive ornamentation. Working within constrained site conditions, we proposed a complex that asserts its presence through a refined architectural language while organically integrating education and work.
An Urban Landmark Completed in a Refined Architectural Language
Bordered by high-rise buildings on three sides — save for the north — the site faced constraints in daylight and views. To establish a presence within this dense urban environment, the façade was designed to carry a clear sense of order and rhythm. The systematic modules and balanced proportions of the grid façade read as a consistent pattern among surrounding buildings, while its crisp rhythm visually communicates the reliability and identity of Hackers. Front-facing office placement and an offset core enhance street-level recognition, while piloti-type public open spaces on both sides ensure accessibility from the boulevard.
Brand History and Identity Encountered Through Experience
A company's identity cannot be completed by its exterior alone — it is only fully realized when the experience of the interior is integrated. A space was needed that could convey a sense of belonging and pride to employees, and communicate the brand's philosophy to visitors. To translate Hackers' essence as an education group — the accumulation and transfer of knowledge — into spatial form, the archetype of a 'Library' was adopted. The main lobby (Hackers Square), encountered upon entering through the main entrance, was planned as the core space for experiencing Hackers' vision and values. The lobby is organized around a bookshelf (Hackers Library) positioned between an open plaza-like space and an arched structure. Open vertically from the first to the third floor, this space naturally connects the streetscape to the interior. Within it, the continuously stacked shelves dramatically reveal the process by which knowledge has accumulated, allowing visitors to naturally encounter the brand's history and identity through the spatial experience.
An Educational and Work Space Integrated as One Ecosystem
The Hackers Education Group Headquarters was designed as an open complex for diverse users. The goal was not simply to place education and work side by side, but to make them function as a single ecosystem. Four zones — Hackers Square, Academy, Workplace, and Lounge — are arranged vertically around the central Hackers Square, with each zone closely interconnected. A floor area ratio of 991% was achieved on a constrained 1,650㎡ site, and a self-parking ramp extending to the third basement level provides a total of 121 parking spaces. By separating the circulation of employees and students, diverse user groups can occupy the building simultaneously while each moving efficiently through their own dedicated routes. The Academy on floors 4–7 is equipped with movable partitions, allowing classroom sizes to be adjusted according to demand and ensuring long-term flexibility in response to evolving educational programs. The Workplace on floors 8–17 maximizes work efficiency through an open three-sided plan and a two-unit floor layout, with biophilic rest areas creating a comfortable working environment. The top-floor Lounge on the 18th floor serves as a vertical amenity connecting to a rooftop garden — a private retreat exclusively for employees.
