Merck unveils new facade concept at Seoul Biennale

By Kang Seung-woo

Merck, a leading science and technology firm, and its partners OledWorks, OPVIUS and Kolon revealed a new textile façade concept combining organic photovoltaics (OPV) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) technologies, Thursday.

The German firm displayed it at the first Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, an exhibition that takes place from Sept. 1 to Nov. 5, 2017 in Seoul. World-renowned architects, industry leaders, academics, and building scientists come together in Seoul to explore the potential opportunities for architecture and industry.

Merck said that one notable highlight of this project is the multidisciplinary work of architectural and technological processes.

For the Seoul Biennale, German architects Nikolaus Hirsch and Michel Muller, and New York-based Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija have developed a new building component of their ongoing “The Land” project.

This new facade system will produce energy and emit light using advanced OPV and OLED technology, while seamlessly combining natural beauty with innovative design.

The eye-catching, shingle-like façade concept is suspended from a series of four-meter long bamboo tubes, which symbolizes oriental elegance, integrity and simplicity.

The project is embedded in a sustainable and expanded life cycle that includes diverse sites and durations: from the Seoul Biennale in 2017 to the Luminale exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2018. It will finally arrive at “The Land” near Chiang Mai, Thailand, where the prototype is to be realized in a larger version: a 400 square meter building for research and workshops.

David Muller, global head of marketing photovoltaics at Merck, stressed Merck’s cooperation with partners.

“From the grand success of OPV Trees at the MILAN Expo 2015 to our joint work with the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2015, our collaboration with our valuable long-term partners OledWorks, OPVIUS and Kolon continues to yield exciting results,” he said.

Martina Hueber, head of the global operative marketing OLED at Merck, added, “Merck material solutions demonstrate the capability to combine innovative technologies, transform architecture and extend the realm of possibilities”.

Merck’s partners also showed great interest in the work.

“It is a privilege to work with our strategic partner, Merck, on this exciting project that showcases the superb OLED lighting experience so elegantly,” said David DeJoy, OLEDWorks CEO and co-founder.

“The OLED panels blur the line between light engine and light fixture, providing simplicity in integration of light with a myriad of construction materials. This is beautifully revealed in Hirsch, Muller and Tiravanija’s stunning design.”