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NAVER’s 2,000-day journey to create the space that will redefine the future

1784 is the name and lot number (178-4, Jeongja-dong) of NAVER’s second office building, and the number also stands for the year when the first Industrial Revolution began. Just like how the Industrial Revolution brought about groundbreaking changes to humanity, NAVER seeks to build a better tomorrow by using 1784 as a giant testbed on which we continue to challenge ourselves and experiment.

From 2016 to 2022, NAVER spent 2,000 days imagining, questioning, and testing to bring the testbed to life. The book, <1784 THE TESTBED>, captures that journey and sheds light on diverse projects that NAVER has carried out in practice after 1784’s completion.

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Riding the next wave: NAVER’s giant testbed

As 1784 was being planned, significant changes took place both inside and outside NAVER. At the core of it all was the new wave of robotics and AI. Internally, NAVER expanded its business beyond search into areas such as advertising, commerce, and content. Also, it took the lead in developing various robots for different purposes as the future where humans and robots coexist became increasingly more tangible. In addition, NAVER strengthened its efforts to innovate office infrastructure by developing services like NAVER WORKS and CLOVA.

Externally, the rapid spread of AI technology brought substantial changes not only to the IT industry but also to our daily lives. The unprecedented global pandemic also accelerated this wave of change, fundamentally reshaping how we work and live.

Existing rules rapidly changed and the boundaries between online and offline, and technology and daily lives quickly blurred. At this inflection point, NAVER made a bold decision: its second office building would not be a “completed building,” but an evolving space that could swiftly respond to an ever-changing environment. The aim was to go beyond a typical office and design a space where diverse ideas and future technologies could be tested first.

1784 TF: A testament to the power of teamwork

The 1784 Project was spearheaded by the 1784 TF, which was composed of over 200 professionals including experts in spatial planning, architectural and brand design, robotics, AI, spatial intelligence services, infrastructure, and platform and system security. It was no easy feat as the goal was not simply to build a building where employees work, but to establish a constantly evolving space that could flexibly adapt to the diverse working styles of NAVER employees and an unforeseen future.

“We approached the planning of the 1784 space with the idea of creating a NAVER service. Just as someone planning services incorporates key insights about target users into their plan, our biggest priority was to observe and interview the members who would actually be using the space.”

p. 43, “Back to Basics”

Thanks to a painstaking analysis of the working styles and behavioral patterns of the members, partners, and visitors, NAVER succeeded in giving birth to 1784 – the world’s first robot-friendly building where architectural and spatial design, as well as advanced technologies such as AI, digital twins, cloud systems for robots, 5G networks, FaceSign (a facial recognition security system), and WORKS are seamlessly integrated.

10 stories behind the “world’s first” title

Behind the title “the world’s first robot-friendly building” lies the stories of the people who were deeply committed to designing 1784. To embed ever-evolving, complex technologies into the building. To reduce office waste and create a more sustainable space. To respond to the unpredictable challenges of the pandemic. In an era where even the nearest future is difficult to foresee, TEAM NAVER chose not to be complacent, but to pioneer and experiment. The book, <1784 THE TESTBED> captures such bold endeavors in 10 chapters.

This book does not have an ending. 1784 is still experimenting fearlessly, and just like NAVER’s technologies and services, it will consistently be updated. Moving forward, NAVER will continue to explore ways to connect new technologies, services, and people at 1784 to unlock greater possibilities for everyone ●

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► Discover the full story of 1784 TF, the team that turned challenges into innovation. Read <1784 THE TESTBED>

► Watch the 1784 branding film: <Why did NAVER build 1784, its second office building?> Watch Now Book 1784

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