To establish the concept of “openness” for the café, we explored a narrative approach that draws from the space itself and the traces within it. We focused on the name the client had envisioned—“Gaebang (개방),” meaning “openness.” The term signifies opening doors or spaces to allow free access and use, breaking down boundaries to enable freedom of movement and interaction.

Building on this idea, we aimed to craft a spatial narrative. We envisioned a traditional Korean brick house built after liberation, which had once become closed off—like a tightly sealed wall—but over time, its boundaries softened, revealing the meaning and forms of old Korean aesthetics. This transformation into an open space sets the stage for diverse stories to emerge. In designing the space, we developed the three core elements of narrative: character, event, and setting.

First, the “characters” are the client and the baristas, represented through small figurines (called “japsang”) placed throughout the space. The “event” unfolds as the once-solid wall gradually disappears, revealing traditional Korean elements like the daecheong (wooden floor), toe-maroo (veranda), distant mountains beyond a low fence, and mother-of-pearl inlays—all subtly integrated into the space. Finally, the “setting” is based on the traditional Korean courtyard, or madang, reimagined here as a place where guests can enjoy an experience reminiscent of a madangnori—a traditional outdoor play full of humor and festivity.

In Café Gaebang, the coffee bar is placed at the center of the space so guests seated around the perimeter can view the entire café at a glance. To highlight this central area, the ceiling was designed as a canopy, evoking the festive mood of a madangnori celebration. The baristas—the “characters” of the narrative—perform hand-drip coffee making in a way that guests can observe clearly, like a theatrical scene. This performative aspect blurs the line between work and play, bringing to mind a comedic performance unfolding in a courtyard. Narrative elements tied to Korean culture continue throughout the design.

The mother-of-pearl furniture subtly reveals traces of the past through its decorations, handles, and patterns, inviting curiosity and storytelling. Motifs like phoenixes, turtles, butterflies, and birds—symbols from old memories—are embedded in the long patterns of the bar, each carrying a small story. We also placed japsang figurines representing the three baristas under the eaves at the entrance to bring good fortune.

A foldable glass door at the far end of the space blurs the boundary between inside and out, guiding the gaze naturally. The outer wall incorporates traces of the old concrete fence that once stood here, with a new texture added to express the image of distant mountains in the rain beyond the yard. Inside, when seated around the toe-maroo, the view is designed to lead naturally toward those faraway mountains beyond the fence—another scene born from intention.