[2023 Housing Culture] POSCO E&C Leads Eco-Friendly Construction with Biophilic Terrace and Botanical Garden Cafe...

Plantrium Horticultural Space Interior [Photo by POSCO E&C]

POSCO E&C is emerging as a leader in eco-friendly construction. The company is committed to realizing a sustainable future vision by incorporating nature-friendly designs in various areas, from terraces within apartment complexes to community facilities and parking lots. Through diverse eco-friendly construction initiatives, POSCO E&C secured first place for the 13th time in the ‘2022 Korea Quality Satisfaction Index (KS-QEI) Apartment Category’ organized by the Korea Standards Association.

A representative example is the eco-friendly medium-to-large floor plan developed by POSCO E&C called the ‘Biophilic Terrace New Floor Plan.’ The signature specialized space, the ‘Biophilic Terrace,’ differs from conventional balconies located at the edges of floor plans by actively integrating nature-friendly elements from the design stage. It allows direct sunlight and connects directly to the living room or kitchen, enhancing its utility as a garden space. This area can be decorated with trees or potted plants to create a garden with natural lighting inside the apartment. Another advantage is that the garden view is fully visible from the living room or kitchen.

The botanical garden caf? ‘Plantrium’ is a multifunctional relaxation space where residents can enjoy salads and tea while viewing the garden. It is installed as a large greenhouse-type structure at the center of the complex and is directly accessible from the parking lot, increasing resident accessibility and usage. In the underground LED plant farm, residents can harvest vegetables themselves to prepare salads and other dishes.

POSCO E&C also developed the ‘Biophilic Parking Lot,’ which changes the conventional perception of underground apartment parking. The first basement level draws in sunlight and wind and is planted with real trees and herbaceous plants. On the second basement level and below, depending on the amount of sunlight, shade-tolerant plants, landscaping stones, and other elements are harmoniously arranged to create a garden environment close to nature. The apartment community facility ‘Club The Sharp’ also incorporates ‘Green Life’ to develop a design that brings residents closer to nature.