NHN’s Green Factory Features Movable Louvers for Employees to Adjust Light

The Next Human Network (NHN) in Korea is an online gaming media and search-based Internet portal that has recently experienced explosive growth. To accommodate their rapid expansion, the company needed new headquarters for its growing staff and a creative and dynamic environment in which to work. For their new home, NHN wanted both a transparent tower with views to the south as well as individualized control over lighting levels for computer work. In response <a href="http://inhabitat.com/chinatrust-headquarters-by-nbbj-architects/">NBBJ</a>, in cooperation with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/samoos-new-korean-cultural-center-in-nyc-aims-for-leed-certification/">Samoo Architects and Engineers</a>, came up with an <a href="http://inhabitat.com/coffee-plaza-striking-oval-building-features-an-innovative-louvered-facade/">innovative louver system</a>. Each employee can move the distinctive green louvers as needed to create a comfortable working environment in their new headquarters, called the 'Green Factory.'

Located in Bundang, Korea, the Green Factory is a 1.1 million sq ft office space with a low base and an adjacent green glass tower.

Large enough for 4,000 employees the new headquarters also houses space for retail, an 800-seat corporate/community auditorium, a bookstore café, childcare facilities, café lounges, sub-grade parking and a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/intexure-architects-transform-parking-garage-into-a-rooftop-zen-garden/">rooftop garden</a>.

NBBJ and Samoo's design is intended to foster creativity and innovation through the interior layout.

With a column-free layout, the office area is open so employees can see each other, communicate more effectively and have a chance to brainstorming.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/high-performance-facade">high-performance facade</a> is composed of a double-glazed skin with a smooth layer on the exterior and a louvered layer on the interior.

Large, green vertical <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/louvers">louvers</a> wrap around the entire building and employees can rotate the glass fins as they see fit to bring in more or less light

As the sun moves across the sky, the louvers rotate to minimize glare and produces a dynamic and ever fluctuating facade.

The moveable facade also has the added benefit of getting the employees to move around, which is both healthier and encourages communication.

The green facade is both dynamic and very distinct.

A rooftop garden provides employees a place to get outdoors and take a break.