Architecture with an Open Ending: Hyundai Department Store Valet Lounge | KimNam Architects

SPACE March 2026 (No. 700) 

©Jang Mi 

©Jang Mi 

The Aerial

An extension to a valet parking lounge was added to the rear façade of an iconic department store building that had occupied the same site for over forty years. The project proposed an architectural apparatus capable of sheltering visitors from rain, snow, and sunlight as they arrive, handing over their car keys, and waiting for their vehicles after shopping.

Adding a contemporary structure as an annex to an existing building – built with a reinforced concrete frame adorned with decorative columns reminiscent of Western classical architecture – demanded a clear architectural stance. We sought to create an architecture that was explicitly modern, moving away from past styles, yet one that did not conflict with the aura of the original building. Through a single, abstract plane (the canopy) that boldly sheds the weight of historical context and architectural gravity, we wanted to achieve an elegant and impressive architecture.

©Jang Mi 

©Jang Mi 

©Jang Mi 

©Jang Mi 

Since the project required vertical and horizontal expansion within a short construction period, while the department store remained in operation, a steel structural system was applied. The canopy, spanning nearly 100-pyeong, is composed as a slender and continuous white surface. The 5m-cantilever beams taper to a vanishing point at their ends. All joints and textures were concealed under a seamless stucco finish so that the surface itself could be perceived as pure form. 

Beneath the extension lies an underground food hall and parking garage, leaving almost no structural margin. Steel columns have also been positioned like acupuncture needles, placed precisely atop the existing underground pillars. The walls of the valet lounge and booths under the canopy were finished with Moon Kyung stone, engraved in stripes to seep naturally into the building’s original finish. Though it may appear as a simple, small space, it was meticulously designed to accommodate the brief moments of exchange – stepping out of a car, handling over the keys, returning to a waiting vehicle – so that gestures of welcome, farewell, courtesy, and gratitude, could unfold smoothly and without interruption.

©Jang Mi 

©Jang Mi

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