If the city represents a desert, it might seem antithetical to propose that a skyscraper be the oasis, that refreshing place of respite amidst the harsh atmosphere. After all, skyscrapers are akin to sand dunes in the urban desert. However, four master’s students at Kookmin University in Seoul, South Korea has envisioned a structure that functions as an oasis in the dense desert by appealing very specifically to the human senses.

Kim Kyung-hwan, Bae Sung-eun, Jang In-chul and Park Jong-bin have designed an “Urban Oasis” that addresses each of the human senses in a calming way so as to enable rest and relaxation by virtue of being and near the structure. Wide open spaces relieves stress on the eyes; quiet, natural areas appeal to the ears; organic fruits and vegetables available on site enliven taste buds; the fresh smell of natural space clears the mind via the nose; and the community within the building and their collective warmth brings comfort through the sense of touch.

All of these elements are brought to life vertically, of course: the structure has been designed to accommodate trees and vegetation within polygonal pods stacked onto each other in a tall tower.

By encompassing nature into a modern structure, these four students have designed a building that energizes and comforts the overstressed city dweller.