Partial reveals are alluring — they're the reason that tease campaigns work so well when marketing a product — and the design of XYZ Formula, a retail space in Seoul, South Korea, makes excellent use of the concept. The building's facade looks like a gentle, grid-like gradation from black to white during the day, but at night the facade reveals its true nature as a see-through, permeable membrane.
The facade of XYZ Formula is built out of punching plates, which are metal squares with small perforations across their entire surface. Because those holes are so small, the plates effectively look opaque during the day (since the light coming from outdoors is so much brighter than any light being emitted from inside.) However, during the nighttime, the indoor lights shine through the holes, showing off the inside like a light passing through a veil.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Gradated Translucent Facades
- The use of gradated translucent facades creates an alluring visual effect that can attract attention and enhance the appeal of buildings, such as retail spaces.
- Perforated Punching Plates
- The use of perforated punching plates in building facades allows for a unique play of light and transparency, offering innovative opportunities in architectural design.
- Day-to-night Transformations
- Designing facades that undergo significant transformations from day to night presents an exciting opportunity to create dynamic and engaging architectural experiences.
Sectors Adopting This
- Architecture
- The architecture industry can explore the use of gradated translucent facades and perforated punching plates to create visually striking and transformative building designs.
- Retail
- The retail industry can leverage the use of gradated translucent facades to create captivating storefronts that enhance brand identity and attract customers.
- Lighting Design
- The lighting design industry can innovate by developing creative lighting solutions that maximize the visual impact of perforated punching plates in facades, enabling captivating day-to-night transformations.
