Top rides in group lifts made by GBH Design GmbH

Well-known companies mainly in East Asian countries such as China, South Korea and Japan have their huge commercial buildings equipped with lift groups of two, three or four lifts. The fully glazed, one-floor-high lift cars and doors as well as the backlit floor surfaces and door sills convey an impression of weightlessness and transparency.

Here again, functionality is combined with sophistication and aesthetics. Further to many other spectacular examples for group lifts, the 21 glass lifts in the light-flooded Paul-Löbe-House of Representatives in Berlin are certainly a highlight of GBH lift construction.

Hyundai Auto Tower, Seoul

South Korea’s automobile manufacturer Hyundai commissioned GBH Design with the construction of a group of three glass lifts for their new company building, the Hyundai Tower in Seoul.

The freely running glass lifts are located at the façade in the foyer. Each lift car is equipped with glass doors and the hidden under-floor door drive developed by GBH Design. Due to their light and transparent design the lift cars are moving soaringly in the lobby. The framework of the cabins with glass surround is made of stainless steel, the car operating panels made of glass with blue LED display.


Technical data:

Group of 3 lifts
Rated load 1600 kg or 24 persons
10 stops
Travel height 47.1 m
Rope drive 2:1
Rated speed 2.0 m/s
Built in 2013

SK Eco Hub, Pangyo

GBH Design built and installed four glass lift cars for the division SK Gas of the South Korean diversified group of companies SK Group.

Both pairs of lifts are running freely in the lobby over 11 stops, without any shaft glazing. The rectangular cars are equipped with COPs made of black glass and colourfully illuminated touch keys. The under-floor drive developed by GBH, which is integrated in the bottom of the car, allows for an elegant and airy design.


Technical data:

4 lift cabins (2 twin groups)
Rated load 1600 kg or 24 persons
11 stops
Travel height 46.3 m
Rope drive 2:1
Rated speed 2.0 m/s
Built in 2013

Starfield Shopping Center, Hanam

GBH Design manufactured in Hanam, South Korea, two panoramic glass lifts for the biggest shopping center in Korea – its size of 5,000 sqm corresponds to the area of 70 football fields – the “Starfield Hanam”, located at Union Square.

The lift cars running over 6 stops directly next to each other in the shaft are equipped with a rope drive and a backlit cabin floor.


Technical data:

2 lift systems
Rated load 1600 kg or 20 persons
6 stops
Travel height 27.62 m
Rope drive 2:1
Rated speed 1.75 m/s
Built in 2016

Samsung Headquarter, Seoul

Samsung Electronics, the leading IT company in South Korea, erected their new headquarters in the famous business district “Gangnam” in Seoul.

We were asked to provide a group of three lifts to be installed in an adjoining glass building for the transport of visitors and staff up to the conference rooms. The counterweight of the lift system is located in a separate shaft under the lift system.

The all-glass lift cars are illuminated. Thanks to their transparency they merge together with the building into a huge glass cube.


Technical data:

Group of 3 lifts
Rated load 1600 kg
3 Stops
Travel height 16 m
Traction drive 2:1
Speed 1.0 m/s
Built in 2008

The Meydan Hotel, Dubai

When entering the spacious hotel lobby of “The Meydan” the eye is caught by a special highlight: The 12 glass lifts of the hotel in extraordinary design unite functionality and noble appearance.

The fully glazed, angular glass cars with a height of 2.70 m are running in open, free-standing frameworks in groups of 3 lifts. Unparalleled and unique are the elliptical handrails in each car which are filled with numerous Swarovski crystals. These handrails, which are illuminated in eight different constantly changing colours, are reflected in the glass floor of the car as well as in the glass side walls and the ceiling, thus generating a glittering play of colours.

Our type-tested lift doors with under-floor drive measuring a width of 1.2 m and a height of 2.65 m are best suited for this highly frequented hotel.


Technical data:

Four groups of 3 lifts
Rated load 1600 kg
10 – 13 Stops
Travel height 35 – 50 m
Suspension 2:1
Speed 1.75 m/s
Built in 2009

St. Marien Hospital, Seoul

For this project we delivered high-quality glass lifts with special glass doors made by GBH.

Thanks to the glass lift doors with under-floor door drive the entire lift cars could be completely made of glass.

The fully glazed cars and open shafts of the two groups of two lifts convey the impression of filigree and transparency in the sunlit lobby.


Technical data:

Group of 2 lifts
Rated load 1350 kg
9 Stops
Travel height 38 m
Suspension 2:1
Speed 1.50 m/s
Built in 2009

Ilshin Spinning Group, Seoul

GBH designed, manufactured and installed a group of three lifts for the new building of the greatest textile company in South Korea, the Ilshin Spinning Group in Seoul.

In order to realize the idea of having a transparent and filigree lift system, we once again mounted our doors with under-floor door drive for this project.

The lift cars with glass ceiling and illuminated glass floor fascinate due to their transparency. They fit perfectly into the design of the building which shows a lot of glass and stainless steel and is flooded with light.


Technical data:

Group of 3 lifts
Rated load 1300 kg
8 Stops
Travel height 28 m
Suspension 2:1
Speed 1.5 m/s
Built in 2009

Paul-Löbe House of Representatives, Berlin

The glass shafts suspended from the coffer ceiling on thin steel draw-bars allow daylight to flood lavishly through the lobby.

The completely glazed cars and doors range from floor to ceiling (2820 mm) and are only bordered by thin stainless steel strips.

The backlit floors and thresholds also add to the cars’ impression of weightlessness.
The glass facades of the Paul-Löbe-Haus allow grand views of the Reichstag, the Chancellor`s Office and the River Spree.


Technical data:

21 Lift systems in the main lobby
Rated load 1800 + 2200 kg
9 Stops
Travel height 26.8 m
Traction drive 2:1
Speed 2.0 m/s
Built in 1998

Radisson Blu Hotel, Berlin

In addition to the spectacular aquarium lift GBH installed 16 other glass lifts in this hotel.

Amongst them there is a group of 4 lifts with trapezoidal glass cars and type-tested glass doors with under-floor drive.

The steel frame at the coloured portal cladding of this group of four has been adapted to the slanted building axis, so that the lift cars had to be built in a trapezoidal design. The dimmed light in the hotel lobby during the night brings out the illuminated lift cars in an extraordinary way.


Technical data:

Group of 4 lifts in the main lobby
Rated load 1250
10 Stops
Travel height 24 m
Traction drive under the lift shaft
Speed 1.60 m/s
Built in 2003

Taeyoung Building, Seoul

Once again we received an order for glass lifts for a new building of the SBS Holding.

As in the case of the first building – the SBS Broadcasting Centre – we made another great impression in the new building in terms of design and quality.

This fully glazed lift system forms a harmonic entity together with the architectural design of the glass complex.


Technical data:

3 Lift systems
Rated load 1250 kg
14 Stops
Travel height 75 m
Traction drive
Speed 1.60 m/s
Built in 2007

Haevichi Hotel, Jeju-Island

The Haevichi Hotel is located on the resort island Jeju Island, one hour by plane from Seoul.

The new, exclusive hotel comprises a group of three panoramic lifts designed and manufactured by our company.

These glass lifts with their striking illumination elements are an eye-catcher in the noble hotel lobby.
Here again, our quality and design convinced the architects and the client.


Technical data:

Group of 3 lifts
Rated load 1600 kg
10 Stops
Travel height 35 m
Traction drive
Speed 1.6 m/s
Built in 2007

Hyundai Motors Headquarter, Seoul

A group of four lifts had been designed and delivered for the new multi-storey office building of Hyundai Motors.
This scenic lift system is characterised by technical finesses such as illuminated glass floors and mirrored-glass operation panels with premium sensor technology.

The controller of this group of 4 lifts with its high-speed engines represents our new concept and marks the beginning of a new generation of glass lifts.


Technical data:

6 Lift systems – group of 4 + group of 2 lifts
Rated load 1600 kg
25 Stops
Travel height 100 m
Traction drive – gearless
Speed 3.0 m/s
Built in 2007

City Hall in Morioka

According to the high quality and service requirements of the customer we designed, manufactured and supplied the cars equipped with shaft doors and car doors with under-floor drive.

The newly-designed, high-quality transparent lift cars are also approved by the Technical Control Board (TÜV) in Japan. The lift system meets the legal requirements of earthquake safety.

The group of 3 lifts integrates perfectly into the ample, light-flooded lounge.


Technical data:

Group of 3 lifts
Rated load 1350 kg
10 Stops
Travel height 35 m
Direct drive
Speed 1.60 m/s
Built in 2005

Sparkasse, Zwickau

The lifts in the main building of the Sparkasse in Zwickau are part of a concept that wants to guarantee transparency as well as communication between the departments.

Shining stainless steel, glass and light add to the futuristic character of the building.


Technical data:

Group of 2 lifts
Rated load 650 kg
7 Stops
Travel height 21.80 m
Traction drive 1 : 1
Speed 1.00 m/s
Built in 1998

Shopping Centre Shindorim, Seoul

Our glass lifts are placed as a group of two in the middle of the shopping center.

We supplied the entire lift system with circular shaft doors and car doors made of glass. Our type-tested lift doors with under-floor drive have been designed especially for this highly-frequented shopping center and are used by thousands of customers every day.

Thanks to our special lift doors, the entire system has become a moving observation deck – the first one of this kind in the Far East.


Technical data:

Group of 2 lifts
Rated load 1.600 kg
11 stops
Travel 45 m
Partial drive – Suspension 2:1
Rated speed 1.60 m/s
Build in 2007

SBS Broadcasting Centre, Seoul

GBH was assigned to manufacture and install two high-speed lifts at the outer building facade as well as two glass lifts within the impressive new Broadcasting Centre of the Seoul Broadcasting System Company.

In the fully glazed cars and shafts visitors will have a superb view over Seoul – the vibrant metropolis of South Korea.


Technical data:

Group of 2 lifts outside, group of 2 lifts in the lobby
Rated load 1600 kg
25 Stops
Travel height 75 m
Rope drive
Speed 3.0 m/s
Built in 2003

loading