Designby_83 opted for an alternative approach to a ‘vintage’ aesthetic for SSAP Coffee Shop in Ulsan, South Korea, using the space’s preexisting elements instead of bringing in all new materials.
Key features
For Ulsan’s Stay Sweet At Place (SSAP) Coffee Shop, Designby_83 was briefed to create a ‘vintage and hip space’ where ‘the history and traces of the original space coexist.’ The café was stripped back to reveal many of its original features such as exposed concrete walls, worn-out tile floors and metal-framed glass windows, which served as building blocks for the space. The same philosophy was applied to the storefront’s façade which uses long horizontal lines and rectangular shapes as a nod to the form of the building’s original red-brick exterior. The same red hue was brought into the interior as a focal colour used for cabinets, chairs, bakery showcases and lighting.
A sales point and barista counter open up to the 96-sq-m café with a window adjacent to the street allowing for takeaway and once again inviting the outside in. SSAP’s custom furniture is made from wood and industrial materials. Their construction emphasized joinery techniques typical of wood furniture manufacturing, revealing the different layers of assembly as the stripped-back space also does.
Frame’s take
When asked to create a ‘vintage and hip’ café space, Designby_83 reinterpreted the common understanding of a retro aesthetic. Vintage aesthetics often utilize the nostalgia to convey a look characteristic of a specific era. Instead, the studio opted to interpret the brief in a literal way, drawing on what is considered ‘old’. The space was stripped back to reveal its original elements thus embodying a vintage look inspired by its own history, also adding a sustainability element to the space by introducing few new materials. While the ample use of raw materials like concrete may run the risk of creating a cold aesthetic, custom furniture, red accents and lighting transform the space into a cosy café.