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K-Stuff Hong Kong

Canter & Gallop Design

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The shopfront is inspired by a Hanok where traditional Korean window screen partitions are reinterpreted with layers of matte acrylic light tubes - Timmy Lo
The Korean clay tile roofing shelters the outdoor area - Timmy Lo
The clients envisioned guests chilling by the shopfront area under a Korean-style tiled roof - Timmy Lo
The shopfront is inspired by a Hanok where traditional Korean window screen partitions are reinterpreted with layers of matte acrylic light tubes - Timmy Lo

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Multi-Brand Store
5.72
6.50
6.12
4.80
5.78
Firas Alsahin
Firas Alsahin Co-Founder and Design Director at 4SPACE Design
7
7
7
7
7
Ayça Doğan
Ayça Doğan Head of Design at CBRE Netherlands
7
6.8
7.4
6.8
7
Jaime Velez
Jaime Velez Design Partner at Velez + Valencia Arquitectos
7.24
7.52
7.6
7.02
7.35
Maria Messina
Maria Messina Creative Director and Design Architect at FAAB
7
6
6
7
6.5
Yen Kien Hang
Yen Kien Hang Founder / Design Writer / Author at OutOfThePackage
Outdoor seems to be only workable d...
6
6
6
6
6
Elise Zoetmulder
Elise Zoetmulder Founder at Zoetmulder
Interesting combination of the terr...
6
7
8
7
7
Rachna Agarwal
Rachna Agarwal Founding Partner at Studio IAAD
6.67
6.95
6.31
6.95
6.72
Andres Fredes
Andres Fredes Creative Director / Partner at ALLDSGN
6
7
7
8
7
Lin Chen
Lin Chen Founding Partner at Topos Design
6.5
7
7
7
6.88
Maximilian Pecher
Maximilian Pecher Senior Designer and Creative Lead at NorthernLight
6
7
6
7
6.5
Carolin Krebber
Carolin Krebber Founder at Büro agata/ Co-founder Format F/ allmannwappner
6.38
7.38
7.67
7.24
7.17
Jason Su
Jason Su Design Director at HCD Impress
8.45
8.31
8.52
8.17
8.36
Philippe Paré
Philippe Paré Principal and Managing Director at Gensler
5.21
6.64
5.88
6.74
6.12
Evans Lee
Evans Lee Founder & Design Director at Evans Lee Designers
7
7.5
8
7
7.38
Emma Holt
Emma Holt Associate Director at Ben Adams Architects
6.74
7.12
7.02
6.12
6.75
Kristen Becker
Kristen Becker Partner at Mutuus Studio
7
7
6
7
6.75
Mohammed Adib
Mohammed Adib Chief Design Officer at Dewan
5.81
6.88
6.95
5
6.16
Client
K-Stuff
Floor area
167 ㎡
Completion
2022
Social Media
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A Window to Korea

Sitting at the bottom of a Chinese tenement building in one of Hong Kong’s most historical districts revitalized with handicraft shops as well as trendy cafes, K-Stuff is a lively Korean lifestyle store offering customers a glimpse into the Korean culture. 

The store is designed to be one open-plan space with interconnected retail area, food-takeaway station and workshop. Taking cues from Hanok — a traditional Korean house, windows and doors are not only purposely placed to act as frames to its surroundings, but also to allow opening up the living space and connecting different rooms to bridge the gap between human and the neighbourhood and to bring people together. 

A floor-to-ceiling glazing sheltered by a Korean clay tile roofing spans across the entire shopfront where the interior is completely visible. Expansive layers of custom matte acrylic light tubes aligning with the windows form a backdrop for the latest products on display and the outdoor seating. Perforated through the event-poster board shelvings and window displays, the light tubes are poetically arranged in rows to recreate a pattern inspired by the classic Korean window screen partitions that light passes through. 

A centerpiece created by wrapping the existing elevator shaft of the building with matte acrylic light tubes and an LED barrisol panel at the base light up the heart of the store. Beneath it are two tall aluminum display cabinets to feature new seasonal products. 

With a big opening in each cabinet and the two mirrored, different areas are strategically framed to provide a sense of continuity and activities beyond the products. In contrast with the metallic interiors, wood and straw acoustic panels are applied to the rest of the retail furniture, while a long piece of traditional Korean Ramie fabric is draped on the wood-beam-like pendant lamps that run across the length of the retail, adding warmth and softness to the space. 

The opposite side separated by the central metal cabinets is set in a darker tone where the back wall is cladded with charred wood and polished stainless steel. Flexible seatings are placed along the wall lit up by matte acrylic light tubes to create a lounge-like atmosphere for gatherings and workshops. The dynamic tonal change from dark to light, cool to warm is the effect of our approach to a contemporary Hanok.