Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, made these remarks on May 14 during the 'Lobby Story Town Hall' event at the Yangjae headquarters. He noted that the lobby renovation stemmed from a desire to build on the experiences, achievements, and ideas accumulated at the Yangjae headquarters. "This initiative began with a goal to change our work environment to foster innovation, and I believe we have achieved a satisfactory result," he said.
◆ Renovated after nearly two years: An open plaza for employee communication
Hyundai Motor Group's Yangjae headquarters has served as the group's control tower since 2000, symbolizing the foundation of its growth. The renovation, which began in May 2024 and took about two years to complete, centers on the philosophy of 'communication.' The lobby has been redesigned into an open plaza for employees, covering approximately 36,000 square meters, equivalent to the size of five soccer fields, spanning from the basement to the fourth floor.
The event took place in the newly created tiered lounge, 'Agora,' where Chung and other key executives, including Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon and Presidents Seo Kang-hyun, Choi Jun-young, Sung Kim, and Park Min-woo, gathered with those involved in the lobby's design. Chung emphasized that "short conversations can lead to new ideas, and sharing information can facilitate better outcomes. I hope this project will change our working environment and, consequently, our working methods."
Chung pointed out that 'Yangjae' means 'land where virtuous talents gather,' expressing hope that the talented individuals at the headquarters will naturally interact in the lobby and various spaces, leading to greater achievements. He added, "To better understand our customers, we need to be more flexible. Let’s collaborate more, lower barriers, and work in an open manner."
◆ Creating a people-centered plaza: Chung emphasizes the power of reflection
The lobby renovation was undertaken by Studios Architecture, a global architecture and interior design firm. The core concept of the renovation is a 'plaza for freely exchanging ideas.' Hyundai Motor Group has restructured the space while preserving the essence and framework of the Yangjae headquarters, focusing on the values of connection and collaboration.
The first-floor lobby features a tiered lounge called Agora, inspired by ancient Greek plazas, designed to encourage employees to gather naturally. Surrounding Agora are the 'Connect Lounge' for meetings and relaxation, an 'Open Stage' for exhibitions, and a café with an outdoor garden, all interconnected with seating and tables for communication.
To create a bright and inviting atmosphere, the lobby utilizes a vertically open atrium from the first to the third floor, filled with plants and trees. Notably, the design includes harmonious indoor landscaping in collaboration with Professor Jung Young-sun, a pioneer in Korean landscape architecture, providing employees with a space to pause and reflect.
In line with Hyundai Motor Group's goal to become a leader in human-centered physical AI, a robot station has been installed on the first floor, creating a high-tech lobby environment where employees and robots coexist. Robots such as the 'DAL-e Gardener' for landscaping, 'DAL-e Delivery' for deliveries, and 'SPOT' for protocol and security have been introduced.
Alexandra Villegas Sanne, design director at Studios Architecture, explained, "Most companies ask for impressive lobbies that serve as brand showrooms, but Hyundai Motor Group wanted a space centered on people from the start. They desired a living plaza where people actually gather, meet, and share ideas, and we focused on that in our design."
Chung concluded, "Brilliant ideas that enable innovation and change rarely emerge when confined to one place. Innovation often arises from brief conversations, chance encounters, or quiet moments of reflection. I hope this lobby renovation will facilitate more active collaboration on-site."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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