An architecture designed to break down barriers

The project features an open and light-filled architecture where circulation paths, transparency, and spatial fluidity create opportunities for spontaneous interactions between teams. The objective was to design a place capable of breaking down traditional organizational silos and encouraging the cross-functional sharing of ideas. As a result, each spatial sequence was carefully designed to facilitate the flow of ideas and create conditions that support everyday innovation.

The Agora : A “Home for ideas”

At the heart of the project lies the Agora—a vast central space inspired by the public squares of ancient Greece—which serves as the headquarters’ main gathering point. It is where each day begins and ends, where ideas take shape, and where informal exchanges and collective moments animate the daily life of the organization.

Around this unifying space, a rich and diverse program unfolds. Informal meeting areas such as the café, lounges, and coworking spaces encourage interaction and collaboration. Other spaces showcase the Group’s culture of innovation, including exhibitions of vehicles from different eras, displays of branded products, and the charging station for the robots that enliven the environment. The Open Stage serves as a versatile communication platform for presentations, programs, and exhibitions highlighting Hyundai’s various initiatives. On the ground floor, a large conference hall connected to the Critic Room enables the Group’s latest innovations to be presented live and explored from every angle through advanced technological support.

A headquarters designed for Human–Robot–AI coexistence

The architectural project also reflects the Group’s strategic evolution—from a historic automobile manufacturer to a global leader in mobility, robotics, and intelligent technologies.

The headquarters therefore functions as a true technological showcase, integrating DAL-e Gardener and DAL-e Delivery robots into the building’s daily operations. From the earliest design stages, the spaces were conceived to enable seamless coexistence between people and robots through adapted circulation routes, integrated charging areas, and a spatial organization compatible with emerging AI-powered uses.

The new headquarters is at once a workplace, an innovation laboratory, and a full-scale experimental platform.

A human-centered vision

Beyond technological innovation, the project places the user experience at the core of its design. Learning spaces, inspirational environments, collaboration hubs, and relaxation areas have all been carefully conceived to encourage interaction, spark curiosity, and foster the emergence of new ideas. Designed as a stepped amphitheater, the Agora creates multiple visual connections between the different levels and the many destinations throughout the building, each serving as a catalyst for collective creativity.

On the first floor, a café operated by robots is complemented by meeting rooms and a coworking area. Nearby, a large library offers an extensive selection of books, documents, and music organized around thematic collections carefully curated by the Japanese company Culture Convenience Club. An auditorium and a concierge service complete the program on this level.

Higher up, Café Tartine and The Oasis provide spaces for relaxation and renewal. The Oasis brings an outdoor atmosphere indoors through lush landscaping and urban furniture inspired by Parisian public spaces. This level also features a professional recording studio and a learning lab hosting workshops, lectures, and educational programs.

At the basement level, a large dining area, retail space, and a range of leisure amenities—including an arcade, fitness center, and swimming pool—offer employees opportunities to unwind, socialize, and recharge throughout the day.

This project illustrates a new generation of corporate headquarters and embodies STUDIOS’ belief that today’s workplaces should be true living environments—spaces that support individual needs while fostering collective intelligence, a key driver of innovation.