The start of the café Oriente goes back to the client’s demand, “I would like the space where oriental aesthetics are implied.” Our client had a plan to provide artisanal traditional Korean snacks with the beverage. From this idea, we explored a particular aesthetic quality and nature-oriented philosophy from a traditional residence of Korea which is called ‘Hanok’.
First, a curve from the eaves of Hanok has been reflected in spatial elements. The elaborate curves concentrate on the space where barista stay. This smooth line is also extended to the edge of the ceiling structure, so space looks deeper and as if it was floating like a cloud.
Second, a structure of Hanok is shaped by one of the consonants in Korean ‘ㄷ.' This form gives the feeling of embrace nature, including the courtyard in the middle. Since there is no ceiling in this space, it brings and accepts the natural world to the inside. By sitting in this space, visitors can feel a sense of stability.
Moreover, we emphasized the richness of the material of Hanok. The rough and coldness of the walls represent nature itself. At the same time, the cream-color and warmth wood show the mood of the Hanok. Since those materials are interacting with each other, visitors can feel the counterpoising quality for maximum impact.
All these elements describe café Oriente for the memorable experiential qualities of the traditional Korean house in the most modern way.