In Busan, South Korea, Kengo Kuma and Associates are bringing the Busan Lotte Tower to life on the former City Hall site in Jung-gu. The tower, located where the city meets the sea, is inspired by the movement of ships in the harbor and the rhythm of waves, reflecting Busan’s maritime identity.
Rising around 345 meters with 67 floors above ground, the building is designed as a vertical stack of curved glass volumes. Each layer is slightly offset, creating concave and convex surfaces that echo the undulating sea. Horizontal glass bands ripple across the façade, blending spandrel and vision glass. The glass changes from fully transparent to softly tinted, capturing the light and colors of Busan’s coastal sky.
High-performance glazing helps control heat and glare, while slender fins and louvers on the upper floors filter sunlight and wind, creating a comfortable environment for the rooftop observatory, which offers panoramic views of the city, sea, and sky.
Construction began in August 2023 under Lotte Construction, with structural engineering by Arup and CNP. In April 2025, the Busan Metropolitan City Architectural Expert Committee granted conditional approval, requiring careful attention to structural, seismic, and wind considerations. 
Rather than dominate its surroundings, the Busan Lotte Tower is designed to blend with the landscape. Its reflective glass façade and flowing horizontal lines allow the building to capture the hues of sunrise and sunset, linking the rhythm of urban life with the harbor. Once completed, it is expected to become an iconic landmark and a driver of urban regeneration along Busan’s waterfront.
Source: kkaa.co.jp with additional information added by Glass Balkan
