The sofa is arguably the most representative piece of furniture in a home, functioning as a central gathering place for families. When commissioned by a company specializing in sofas to design a commercial facility for exhibiting and selling their products, the architects first visited the site, only to find it being used as a soil dumping ground for the adjacent Subway Line 4 construction. Unable to properly assess the physical land, the team had to rely on the subway station's construction plans to begin the project.

The design process had to account for a planned urban road that would eventually bisect the site. Formerly agricultural land, the site required fundamental foundational preparation. The early stages demanded extensive preliminary research, legal reviews, and consultations with authorities regarding planned road levels, infrastructure connections, and the occupation of state-owned land—much like setting up an easel and a new canvas before starting a painting.

The client’s primary request was to maximize both the building volume and floor area, a natural requirement for a retail space showcasing bulky furniture. However, the site was narrow and elongated, located in a general residential zone subject to strict four-story height limits and north-facing solar setback regulations. Overcoming these restrictions while maximizing space and creating an attractive facade to reflect the brand's identity was a significant challenge.

Recognizing that visitors often come as families—whether moving, renovating, or building a new home—the architects envisioned the flagship store not just as a retail space, but as a comfortable resting place akin to a family picnic spot. Since the building also functions as a storage facility, the design motif was inspired by the image of stacked sofas. By visualizing the massing as Tetris blocks stacked to avoid the solar setback line, and then selectively "removing" certain blocks to find structural and visual balance, the final exterior form was realized. While this playful approach might seem unconventional, it successfully dictated the building's architectural silhouette.

Constrained to four stories with a maximized floor area ratio, the design lacked ground-level outdoor space. To compensate, a spacious rooftop courtyard was introduced, functioning as a public park. The intention was to create a venue for cultural consumption where people could comfortably visit without a specific purpose, especially following the opening of the nearby Onam Station.

After completion, it was rewarding to see the space actively operated by the brand and enjoyed by various visitors, functioning exactly as intended. As the surrounding urban infrastructure, including Onam Station, took shape alongside the building, the flagship store now stands ready for the future. When the planned road is fully realized and new buildings emerge, the architects hope "Floating Box" will positively influence how architecture interacts with and shapes the city's expression.