Samsung Europe Headquarters
1996-1998

Terry Farrell and Partners were commissioned by Samsung to design the Samsung Europe Headquarters in London. The site is located at the meeting point of the Great West Road and M4 elevated motorway and will be highly visible from the flight approach to Heathrow Airport.

The design concept for this European headquarters building proposes a landmark tower expressing Samsung's identity, its aspirations for the future and the fusion of English and Korean culture. The architecture and landscape strategy have been inspired by the study of traditional Korean architecture which emphasises the balance between buildings and nature. This has influenced the placing of the building and the form of landscape design and is characteristic of TFP's work as the building works in, and depends upon, its surroundings. The tripartite division of a traditional Korean building into base, middle and roof is reflected in the sectional organisation of the headquarters. Innovative solutions to the problems of traffic noise have also provided environmental benefits with a hard oval outer shell.

The landscaping of the site and its integration with a concept embracing Boston Manor Park again harmonises two philosophies - Korean landscape incorporating natural landscape and built forms, and the concept of the English Country House incorporating a strong object set within and unifying a parkland setting. These two philosophies share the qualities of the picturesque and informal meeting the formal.

Overall, the long term objective is that the development will achieve a headquarters complex which extends beyond centralised offices and a total working community for the 21st century for Samsung Europe as part of their globalisation plans.