Cerulean Coffee Shop / stof.

Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography, KitchenCerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography, Concrete, Column, BeamCerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior PhotographyCerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Exterior PhotographyCerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - More Images+ 24

  • Architects: stof.
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  93
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2020
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Kim Donggyu
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  ZWCAD
More SpecsLess Specs
Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography, Kitchen
© Kim Donggyu

Text description provided by the architects. Among the traditional houses inside the old alley, a Korean design studio [stof] designed a coffee showroom by reinterpreting the hanok in a modern way. Insa-dong, which is one of the most historic town in Seoul, known for galleries with long history, craftsmen as well as tea places. [Cerulean] was to use hanok, a Korean traditional house style, alongside the mood of the surroundings. [stof] tried to focus the brand on coffee and people, while the space fills the gap in between.

Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography, Kitchen
© Kim Donggyu
Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Image 28 of 29
Plan
Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography, Bed
© Kim Donggyu

From the name “cerulean,” [stof] made a decision to replace ceiling with blue sky of Insa-dong, thinking that the real blue that cerulean desires of is not a blue-colored painted wall but a real sky which is changing with time and season. Therefore, those who visit "cerulean" can see the sky from any part of the cafe, from the sitting area to the yard.

Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Facade
© Kim Donggyu

The cafe is mainly divided into two zones, which are the newly built zone where baristas make coffee and the traditional hanok zone where customers can sit and drink coffee. There are only coffee scents, conversation sounds, and skylights in the new zone, a platform for entry and exit. There is even no sound of music. Stof imagined that customers would be able to watch leaves falling in autumn and snowflakes in winter while waiting for coffee though the open ceiling of the waiting area in the new zone.

Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography
© Kim Donggyu

The other space of traditional hanok has a long stretch of seats along with the structure of the old house, allowing customers to see the yard and the sky. This is the space where the eyes would naturally stay outside of the room by intentionally lowering the lighting level inside. A method of indirect lighting was used as a whole for natural mood of the indoor spaces. In particular, the custom-made floor stand lamp designed by [stof] is adjustable to control the direction of light. The design was inspired by traditional Korean candle holder which the direction of emitted light varies depending on the type of decor installed behind the candlesticks.

Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography
© Kim Donggyu
Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Image 29 of 29
Section
Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography, Facade
© Kim Donggyu

The cafe’s symbol is the cloud-shaped wall behind the barista zone. It is a reminiscence of the cloud due to the shadows created by the curves and layers of the wall under the skylight. [stof] has tried several times with 3D printer to find the fit shape. Also, the shape is based on the map of Insa-dong, so the wall not only visualizes the identity of the café but also represents the area where it is sitting in.

Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Facade
© Kim Donggyu

The yard was intentionally created to be minimal, finished with stone from floor to wall. Hanok's yard is a place where water gathers when it rains, so the floor has to be slanted. To make a flat and empty yard, all the floor drainage facilities were hidden and the deck system was used to set the flat level of the stone, which allowed stof to connect indoor and outdoor to the same finish and level.

Cerulean Coffee Shop  / stof. - Exterior Photography
© Kim Donggyu

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:17 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno 1(il).2(i).3(sam).4(sa), Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Cerulean Coffee Shop / stof." 30 Sep 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/948705/cerulean-coffee-shop-studio-stof> ISSN 0719-8884

© Kim Donggyu

Cerulean‘天蓝’咖啡馆,用天空作屋顶 / Studio stof

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.