timeclinic

Representative building at the Sinnonhyeon Station intersection

If a giant concrete cheese grater and a beehive had a love child it would be Urban Hive in Gangnam. This 17 story cube has 3,371 holes, each big enough to hide in when you realize your Gangnam rent is three months overdue. The façade does all the heavy lifting, which is great because the inside has zero columns to block your view of co-workers slowly losing their will to live under fluorescent lights. Architect In Cheurl Kim wrapped this beauty up in 2009, winning the Seoul Architecture Award and giving Seoul another Instagram trap for people who think “structural skin” is a skincare routine. It squats at 476 Gangnam Daero, right above Sinnonhyeon Station, so you can step off the train and directly into a massive block of artisanal Swiss cheese. Those holes aren’t just for show, they manage light, ventilation, and shadows so dramatic they could win an Oscar. Stand here long enough and you’ll start to wonder if you’re in an architectural masterpiece or a very expensive colander.

Very cooool

Beautiful building specially in night

Instead of Urban Hive, if you go down through Exit 7 of Sinnonhyeon Station, there is a Korean restaurant called 'Urban' on the right. There aren't many items on the menu, such as gukbap and bibimbap, but the taste is neat and clean.